How to Determine If Your Dog Has Worms
Worms in dogs are a common and somewhat troublesome ailment that can affect any dog. If you have a canine companion, prevention of worms is integral to your pet's health. If you think your dog may already have worms, learn a bit about how you can determine if your canine is suffering from these parasitic ailments.
Instructions
-
-
1
Examine your dog's stools. While this may seem unappealing, it's important in determining if your dog has worms. Examine their next bowel movement to see if you find any worm segments in it. These will usually resemble white string or spaghetti or small grains of rice. If you do find segments, see your veterinarian immediately.
-
2
Examine the area around your dog's tail, as segments can be found here, too. Also, if your dog produces any vomit, examine that for segments, as well. In any case, if your dog is vomiting often it should be taken to the veterinarian to determine if it is worms or another serious ailment.
-
-
3
Note your dog's behavior and weight. There are many signs that could point to worms. If your dog is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is losing weight or even dragging its bottom across the floor, all of these are signs that can indicate your dog is suffering from worms.
-
4
Take your canine to the veterinarian if you notice any of these signs. The vet will usually ask you to collect a stool sample for inspection, as well. Collect the sample in a brown bag or disposable plastic container.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
After treatment for worms, you can purchase prevention medication to administer every six months in order to keep worms away from your household.
You should also make sure you are preventing and treating your dog for fleas, as ingestion of fleas can lead to worms in your dog.
Depending on the worm, you may want to clean all furniture, carpeting, bedding and any area your dog inhabits to insure worm eggs are removed from the home.
For your dog's health, make regular veterinarian visits four to five times a year.
