Worms in dogs are common, and most cases can be treated successfully once the parasite has been identified. Some worms are easy to see, while others are only found through testing, so a veterinary exam is often the best way to confirm what is going on. In this UrgentVet guide, our experts cover comprehensive details about worms in dogs, including the types of worms, causes of infection, signs, symptoms, treatment options and prevention.
Common Types of Worms in Dogs
Different worms spread in different ways and require different treatments, so a veterinary diagnosis is important. The most common types of worms in dogs include roundworms, hookworms, heartworms, tapeworms and whipworms. Below are additional details about the different worm types.
Roundworms
Roundworms in dogs are pale, tube-shaped parasites that can resemble spaghetti in stool or vomit. They are especially common in puppies and may cause diarrhea, vomiting, poor growth, weight loss, a dull coat, or a potbellied appearance.
Hookworms
Hookworms in dogs attach to the intestinal wall and feed on blood. They are usually too small to see, but infections may cause pale gums, weakness, diarrhea, dark stool, weight loss, or poor growth. Puppies can become seriously ill from blood loss.
Heartworms
Heartworms in dogs are spread by mosquitoes and live around the heart and lungs, so they do not appear in stool. As the disease progresses, dogs may develop coughing, reduced stamina, breathing trouble, weight loss, or heart failure. Because heartworm disease requires long-term specialized management, an urgent care clinic will stabilize an acutely symptomatic pet and partner with your primary veterinarian or a specialist for ongoing care.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms in dogs are commonly associated with fleas and prey behavior. Tapeworm segments may appear in stool, bedding, or fur around the anus and often look like grains of rice. Dogs usually become infected by swallowing an infected flea or eating infected prey, making flea control an important part of prevention.
Whipworms
Whipworms in dogs live in the large intestine and are rarely visible. Heavier infections may cause recurring diarrhea, mucus or blood in the stool, straining, dehydration, and weight loss. Repeat testing may be needed because eggs do not always appear in every sample.
How Do Dogs Get Worms?
Dogs get worms from direct contact with parasites through their environment, other animals, insects, and sometimes their mother. Even dogs that spend most of their time indoors can still be exposed to parasitic worms through contaminated soil, fleas, or mosquitoes.
Eating Infected Poop or Stool
Microscopic worm eggs can be passed in feces and remain in soil, grass, dog parks, yards, or shared outdoor areas. A dog may swallow them while sniffing, licking their paws, eating soil, or investigating another animal’s stool.
Consuming Prey Animals or Raw Meat
Dogs can get worms consuming prey animals or raw meat from rodents, rabbits, birds, and other animals can carry immature parasites. Dogs that hunt, scavenge carcasses, or eat uncooked meat may become infected after consuming them.
Eating External Parasites
Fleas can carry tapeworm larvae. When a dog bites or grooms an itchy area and swallows an infected flea, the tapeworm develops inside the intestinal tract.
Passed From Mother Dog to Puppies
Some roundworms can pass to puppies before birth, while roundworms and hookworms may also be transmitted through nursing. This is why puppies need a veterinarian-directed deworming schedule beginning early in life.
Skin Contact
Certain hookworm larvae that makes skin contact can penetrate the skin, particularly through the paws or belly when a dog lies or walks on contaminated ground. Warm, damp environments can support larval development.
Mosquito bites are another form of exposure because they transmit heartworm larvae directly into a dog’s bloodstream.
Signs & Symptoms of Worms in Dogs
The signs and symptoms of worms in dogs depends on the parasite, the number of worms present, and your dog’s age and general health. Some dogs with worms appear completely normal, especially early in the infection.
Possible signs of a dog worm infection include:
- Visible worms or rice-like segments in poop, vomit, bedding, or fur
- Diarrhea, mucus, or blood in the stool
- Dark, tarry stool
- Vomiting
- A swollen or potbellied abdomen
- Weight loss despite a normal appetite
- Poor growth in puppies
- Scooting or licking around the anus
- A dry or dull coat
- Pale gums, weakness, or low energy
- Coughing, reduced stamina, or breathing changes
- Loss of appetite
How To Tell If Your Dog Has Worms
Worms do not always cause obvious symptoms, so it helps to look at the full picture, when trying to determine if your dog has worms. Pay attention any changes in your dog, such as diarrhea, scooting, weight loss, coughing, or low energy. If you can, take a photo or bring a fresh stool sample to your veterinarian.
Seek care sooner if your dog has pale gums, repeated vomiting, bloody or black stool, severe weakness, breathing trouble, collapse, or a swollen, painful abdomen. Puppies should also be seen promptly because they can become dehydrated or anemic more quickly.
How to Get Rid of Worms in Dogs
To get rid of worms in dogs, having the right dewormer and plan is important. However, the right dewormer depends on the parasite and degree of infection. A medication that treats roundworms may not treat tapeworms, whipworms, or heartworms, and products intended for other species may be unsafe.
Veterinary treatment for worms in dogs may include:
- Oral deworming tablets, chews, or liquids
- Topical parasite medication
- Repeat doses to target different life stages
- Flea treatment to prevent recurring tapeworm infections
- Fluids or anti-nausea medication for digestive illness
- Stabilization and referral for complex heartworm cases
- Follow-up stool or blood testing
Many dogs begin feeling better within several days, but the full treatment schedule should be completed even if visible worms disappear.
What Are the Side Effects of Deworming?
Most dogs tolerate deworming medication well, however, there is potential for temporary side effects. Temporary side effects of deworming in dogs may include mild vomiting, loose stool, reduced appetite, tiredness, or increased bowel movements as parasites are eliminated.
Contact your veterinarian if symptoms are severe, continue beyond the expected period, or include facial swelling, breathing difficulty, collapse, repeated vomiting, or heavy diarrhea. Do not give another dose unless the veterinary team advises you to do so.
How Veterinarians Diagnose & Treat Worms in Dogs
To diagnose and treat worms in dogs, veterinarians will ask about your dog’s symptoms, lifestyle, parasite prevention, diet, and possible exposure to contaminated areas.
A fecal test can detect many intestinal worms, while blood testing is used for heartworms and may also be recommended if your dog appears weak, pale, or dehydrated. Photos or samples of anything unusual you found in the stool can be helpful, especially with tapeworms.
Once the parasite is identified, your veterinarian can prescribe the right medication and dose. A follow-up test may be needed to confirm the infection has cleared.
How to Prevent a Dog From Getting Worms
No prevention plan can eliminate every possible risk of a dog getting worms, but a few consistent habits can greatly reduce exposure.
Clean Up After Your Dog
Cleaning up after your dog, including picking up stool promptly from your yard and on walks. Regular cleanup reduces environmental contamination and lowers the risk to other animals and people.
Minimize or Avoid Dog Parks
You can reduce the risk of your dog getting worms by minimizing visits or avoiding dog parks. Dog parks and heavily used outdoor spaces may contain contaminated feces or soil. You do not necessarily need to avoid them completely but supervise your dog closely and prevent stool-eating, puddle drinking, or prolonged contact with waste.
Heartworm, Flea & Tick Prevention
Reliable flea control helps prevent tapeworms, while year-round heartworm prevention protects against heartworms and may also cover certain intestinal parasites. Use products selected for your dog by a veterinarian.
Prevent Preying & Chasing Wildlife
Keep your dog on a leash or within a secure yard to limit hunting, scavenging, and access to carcasses. Avoid feeding raw meat unless your veterinarian has recommended a carefully managed diet.
Annual Exams for Fecal and Blood Testing
Routine annual exams for stool and blood testing can detect parasites before your dog becomes visibly ill. Regular diagnostics and year-round parasite prevention are recommended, with testing frequency based on age, lifestyle, and exposure risk.
Need Veterinary Assistance? Find an UrgentVet Near You!
Most worm infections are routine and treatable, but the correct diagnosis is a must. UrgentVet serves as your first line of defense to evaluate your dog, arrange parasite testing, and provide a prompt treatment plan suited to the type of worm involved.
Walk in or check in online at your nearest UrgentVet location today.
Worms in Dogs FAQs
Are There Home Remedies for Worms in Dogs?
There is no reliable home remedy for worms in dogs that safely treats every type of parasitic worm. Garlic, essential oils, herbs, and homemade mixtures may be ineffective or toxic. Veterinary testing and an appropriate dog-safe dewormer offer the most dependable treatment.
What Happens if Worms in Dogs Go Untreated?
Untreated worms in dogs may lead to chronic diarrhea, vomiting, anemia, weight loss, poor growth, intestinal damage, or heart and lung disease. Heavy infections can become life-threatening, especially in puppies and dogs with other health problems.
What Do I Do if My Puppy Has Worms in Poop?
If your puppy has worms in their poop, contact your veterinarian and bring a fresh stool sample or photo if possible. Puppies commonly develop intestinal worms, but they can also become dehydrated or anemic quickly. Follow the full puppy deworming schedule for rather than treating only once.
How Much Does It Cost to Deworm a Dog?
How much it costs to deworm a dog will vary by clinic, testing, medication, parasite, dog size, and severity. A routine intestinal infection may require an exam, fecal test, and medication. Heartworm disease or severe anemia involves much more extensive care.
Can Humans Get Worms From Dogs?
Yes, humans can get worms from dogs, including roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms that can affect people. Transmission usually involves contaminated feces or soil, skin contact with hookworm larvae, or accidentally swallowing an infected flea. Prompt cleanup, handwashing, flea control, and preventive veterinary care reduce the risk.
Are Worms in My Dog’s Poop an Emergency?
Seeing worms in your dog’s poop is not usually an emergency if your pup is otherwise comfortable and acting normally, but you should arrange a veterinary visit promptly. Seek immediate care for pale gums, collapse, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, black or bloody stool, breathing trouble, or a swollen, painful abdomen.
Photographer: SvetikovaV / Shutterstock
