How to Identify Worms in Dog Feces

Keep your dog safe by screening for worms in its feces.

Worms are a common occurrence in many dogs, and although it is often scary for pet owners to see worms in their dog's feces, treatments are available for worm infestations. Several different kinds of worms can appear in a dog's feces, so it is important to identify the type of worm your dog has in order to give it proper treatment.

Instructions

1. Inspect your dog's feces for tapeworms. These are flat-shaped worms that appear in pieces in your dogs feces. You may also see bits and pieces of the worm around the rear end of your dog. Also be on the lookout if your dog starts dragging its butt along the ground constantly or throws up and has bits of worms in its vomit.

2. Check your dog's feces for roundworms. This worm is most common in dogs and is typically passed down to dogs from their mother's milk. Roundworms are white, circular worms with the same thickness as pasta. Oftentimes, these worms are still alive and moving when in the feces, so they aren't hard to spot. Make sure to wash your hands and anything else that comes into contact with the worms, as humans can become infected from these worms.

3. Take a stool sample into your vet to have them check for hookworms. These are another type of worm that is housed in the intestine of a dog. However, unlike roundworms, the hookworms are too small to see and must be identified through a microscope. These worms cause blood to appear in the stool so if you begin seeing blood on a regular basis in your pet's feces, you need to make an appointment with the vet right away.

Tips & Warnings

• It's also a good idea to monitor your dog's urine occasionally when it goes to the bathroom. If your dog has a capillaria pilca worm infestation in its urinary tract, you will see the worms' eggs in your dog's urine.

References

• Vet Info: Identifying Worms in Dog Feces
• The Dog Health Guide: Types of Tapeworms in Dogs