Skip to main content

Did you find worms in your dog’s poop? Here’s how to identify and treat them

Parasitic worms can cause real problems in pets — here's how to treat them and take care of your furry friend

Dog runs through the grass outside
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Keeping our dogs regular is a fundamental part of pet ownership and is usually pretty easy. Their food includes all the nutrients they need plus maybe a built-in probiotic to help maintain digestion. Sometimes, though, you’ll suddenly find your pup has diarrhea, and you’ll have to figure out exactly what’s going on inside. While there are a number of different possible causes, it could be worms, which can turn serious and even into a life-threatening situation if left untreated.

What are parasitic worms?

When we’re talking about worms here we don’t mean the kind in your yard and we also aren’t including heartworm and ringworm. The type that usually leads to vomiting and diarrhea are intestinal parasites, meaning they’re living in your pup’s gut. There are a bunch of different worms in dogs out there but the most common in dogs are hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, and roundworm. Each can have slightly varied effects but likely all include problems with your pet’s poop.

How do I know if my dog has worms?

Remember vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms of a lot of issues in dogs, everything from eating something they shouldn’t have to serious illnesses, like cancer. The best thing to do is call your vet. They will likely have you bring in a stool sample to test for parasites and possibly other conditions — sometimes our animals catch a tummy bacteria from other dogs that’s easy to treat with antibiotics.

Where do they catch worms?

Sadly, some puppies are born with them and that’s when they’re most fatal, too (particularly hookworms in dogs). In adulthood, your animal might get them from dirt, poop, a rodent, fleas, or another infected pet. It’s best to test your pet before bringing them home or make sure the adoption agency or breeder has thoroughly ruled out worms in dog poop. Even then, you might include a fecal examination as part of a routine screening during their first checkup.

How do I go about identifying dog worms?

Some worms are easy to spot with the human eye, and if you notice something in Fido’s poop, you should keep it for later and bring it to the vet. Otherwise, you won’t always necessarily see the worms, but you’ll notice the effects clearly. When you bring in a stool sample, the tests will determine the type of worm, which also can influence treatment.

How do I treat dog worms?

The best way to take care of worms is with preventatives. Check your heartworm or flea medicine to see if they already contain the right chemicals to keep them at bay. That way, the parasites never have a chance to take root inside your beastie at all. However, once the bugs set in, you might need an additional dewormer to get them out. Your vet will prescribe this, possibly over the course of many months.

Owner petting dog at vet
Sergey Mikheev / Alamy

We say this a lot, but the best defense is a good offense when it comes to worms in dogs. If you’re already paying for preventatives, you can look around and see which ones kill the most worms. One note, cats and dogs sometimes do share parasites if they live in the same household. If you find that your pup has caught one of these, you’ll need to look at your other pets, too.

Editors' Recommendations

Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Is your puppy breathing fast while sleeping? Here’s when you should worry and how to help your dog
When to call a vet because your pup is breathing fast while sleeping
A Jack Russell terrier lies in bed between the feet of his owner

It’s hard not to love watching your puppy sleep. In fact, they might somehow manage to get cuter as they snooze. They look so content and peaceful, especially if they're snuggled up to you. Though experts frequently recommend giving your pet their own sleep space, like a crate, it’s ultimately up to you. Regardless of where and when your puppy is sleeping, you want them to be comfortable and safe. If you notice your puppy breathing fast while sleeping, you may get worried. Should you be? It depends.
Here’s what experts want you to know about labored breathing during sleep and when to call a vet.

Different puppy sleeping patterns
Before we get into breathing patterns, it could help to have some knowledge of puppy sleeping patterns. They're similar to ours, though puppies cycle through them more quickly than humans. A puppy may experience 20 sleep cycles nightly. Humans typically go through about four or five cycles. These are the phases.

Read more
These are the 5 dogs with the least health problems, so your furry friend sticks around for a long time
Bring home one of these breeds for a dog with the least health issues
Chihuahua lies down on a soft rug

Picking out the perfect pooch involves a lot more heart than science — you know the right one the second you see her. But when you choose a dog breed, you should consider a number of factors, including the animal's health and life expectancy, along with other factors, such as size and temperament. After all, you need a pup that fits into your lifestyle and that sticks around with you for a long time. Here's a list of the top five dog breeds with the least health issues.

What breed of dogs has the least health problems
Chihuahua
We're coming with this one out of the gate, because it's the longest-living breed on average. They routinely make it to 20 and nearly always hit the teenage years if properly cared for. Chihuahuas generally have few health issues, though they can be prone to bad teeth, loose knees, and trachea problems like other small dogs. And don't make the mistake that your tiny fluffer doesn't need exercise: She will quickly become obese if not given enough walks and playtime.

Read more
Signs of inbred dogs – and all the reasons why inbreeding is controversial and problematic
Here's how to spot indicators of inbreeding (and what to do if you have an inbred dog)
A closeup shot of a black lab wearing a red leather collar.

Inbreeding, or the act of deliberately breeding two related animals together, is a controversial topic. Sadly, inbreeding is all too common in the world of our canine companions. According to a veterinary study conducted by the University of California at Davis, scientists discovered an inbreeding level of roughly 25% — the same amount of genetic similarity between siblings.

Many dog breeders intentionally choose to inbreed dogs to strengthen certain physical and behavioral traits, as well as to keep the breed's bloodline pure. But this pure bloodline comes at a cost. We'll go over the five most common signs of inbred dogs and discuss why each is potentially dangerous for these unfortunate pups. 

Read more