Pinkish Brown Worm in Chihuahua’s Water Bowl Could be Earthworm, but a Visit to the Vet is Advised

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Pinkish, brown worms were found in Olivia’s dog’s water bowl, and she asks us to identify them, and answer the question of whether or not it could possibly be a parasite. She found two such worms, on two different occasions, and has provided excellent photos of them both. The latest one she found only recently; “This morning I refilled the water bowl for my dog. He’s a 15 year old chihuahua, and he loves to lick the floor looking for scraps of food. After a while he went to the water bowl and drank some water, and when he was done I found this worm looking thing in the bottom of the bowl. It wasn’t moving, but it couldn’t have been there for long since I had just changed the water. This is the second time I’ve found one of these in his water bowl, and the last time was 1-2 months ago. Do you know if it’s parasitic? Is it coming from my dog? Where is it coming from and why? We are located in Sweden. Thank you so much for helping, and have a great day!”

From the looks of it, if this was not a parasite, then we would guess this could either be some species of earthworm or marine worm, though what species in particular we cannot say. With that said, given Olivia’s concerns about parasites, we cannot provide any identification with certainty. The reason for this is because this is potentially a medical situation, and since we are not medical professionals, we are neither qualified nor legally able to identify worms that cause health concerns. Doing so would be tantamount to providing a diagnosis, which only a medical professional can give out. For that reason, we recommend that Olivia take her chihuahua to the vet to get it checked. Only they will be able to confirm or deny if this is a parasite.

Now, in the case that it is not a parasite, and her vet confirms this, we maintain that this could be an earthworm or marine worm, though how two of the same worm ended up in the same dog bowl two months apart is somewhat of a mystery. It’s easy enough to explain one lone worm accidentally finding its way to a spot it shouldn’t be in, but two of the same worm? Olivia also writes that the first worm “did not move either and looked like this” (see photo below). Likewise, she includes another photo of what the worm “looked like after [she] crushed it.” Since both of the worms were dead, and found two months apart, the best explanation we can come up with for their appearance in the water bowl is that the chihuahua brought the worms home from outside after a walk, carrying them inside his mouth and then dropping them when he went for a drink of water.

Crushed Worm

In conclusion, we cannot give a certain identification of these worms, given the nature of Oliva’s concerns, and also the location in which they were found. She has reason to be concerned, and we think it would be a good idea to pay the vet a visit. If they do not find that her chihuahua is infested with parasites, then our best theory is that these are earthworms her chihuahua picked up outside. You’d think the worms would be crushed already if they were being carried inside a dog’s mouth, but dog’s can be surprisingly gentle with things they carry in their mouth if they don’t wish to chew them! We hope this helps, and we wish Olivia, as well as her dog, the very best.

 

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Summary
Pinkish Brown Worm in Chihuahua's Water Bowl Could be Earthworm, but a Visit to the Vet is Advised
Article Name
Pinkish Brown Worm in Chihuahua's Water Bowl Could be Earthworm, but a Visit to the Vet is Advised
Description
Pinkish, brown worms were found in Olivia's dog's water bowl, and she asks us to identify them, and answer the question of whether or not it could possibly be a parasite. She found two such worms, on two different occasions, and has provided excellent photos of them both. The latest one she found only recently; "This morning I refilled the water bowl for my dog. He’s a 15 year old chihuahua, and he loves to lick the floor looking for scraps of food. After a while he went to the water bowl and drank some water, and when he was done I found this worm looking thing in the bottom of the bowl. It wasn’t moving, but it couldn’t have been there for long since I had just changed the water. This is the second time I’ve found one of these in his water bowl, and the last time was 1-2 months ago. Do you know if it’s parasitic? Is it coming from my dog? Where is it coming from and why? We are located in Sweden. Thank you so much for helping, and have a great day!"
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Author: Worm Researcher Anton

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