For canine owners, worms in dogs can be a persistent nuisance. Puppies are most at risk from worm infestations, but they can pose health risks for dogs of all ages.
Although worms in dogs pose a health threat for both animals and humans, their lifecycle happens to be extremely interesting. Learning about them isn’t necessarily for the faint-hearted, but understanding how to identify them can be beneficial to your pet’s health, as well as extremely fascinating.
Length
Roundworms are the most common worms found in dogs and they usually grow to being about seven inches. Hookworms are another type of worm you will commonly find in dogs. Compared to their roundworm siblings, these are a lot smaller. Complications of tissue migration are less frequent as a result of this.
Colouring and Shape
Worms in dogs share similarities in their colouring. Expect them to be tan to white in colour, as well as a spaghetti shape. You may see worms that are short, red and flat in colouring; these are tapeworms. You will normally find tape worms in the dog’s faeces if they have an infection. If you identify what you think may be tape worms then you should see a vet immediately.
Where Should I Look?
You now know how to identify what worms in dogs are, you now need to know where to look for them. It is important to know where to look.
There are two places you should look for worms in dogs: their faeces and their vomit. Dogs pass worms in their stool, so check it regularly. Worms infest near the throat as part of their lifecycle. They may then be vomited by the host. Before clearing your dogs vomit, give it a quick once over for worms.
The risks posed by worms to a dog’s health can be minimised once you know how to look for them.
