Before you can treat worms in puppies, the first thing you must do is figure out what kind of parasite your poor puppy has and how he came in contact with them. Your puppy may have any number of parasitic worms in his system at any given time. He can be infected with the the half-inch-long hookworm or even a tapeworm, but roundworms are the most common type of worm found in puppies.

Puppies are either born with roundworms or they might ingest them through the mother’s milk. Roundworms are whitish in color and look like cooked spaghetti. Female roundworms can produce up to 200 thousand eggs in one day. When the larvae hatch, they make their way into the intestinal tract where they infect the small intestine. The parasites feed on the contents of the puppy’s intestines, which can cause vomiting. In severe cases, worms will also be present in the vomit. Other symptoms of roundworms in puppies include: diarrhea (sometimes with blood), gas, abdominal pain, and weight loss, larvae in the stool, dry hair, a general poor appearance, and a pot-bellied appearance.

Other Types of Worms in Puppies

Other types of parasitic worms common to dogs and puppies include: hookworm, whipworm, and tapeworms as mentioned above as well as heartworm. Hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms live in the dog’s intestines and the heartworm lives in the dog’s heart and in the blood vessels that lead from the heart to the lungs. If left untreated any type of dog worm can be fatal, but the heartworm is the most dangerous of them all.

How to detect puppy worms

One of the most obvious ways to detect dog worms is to simply examine your dog’s feces. This can be accomplished by sight alone. Dog worms can also be found in your dog’s food, on or buried in your dog’s fur, around his anus, around his paws (from scratching) and it is not uncommon to find them in your dog’s ears.

Where do other puppy worms come from?

Fleas are a major source of certain types of worms, such as tapeworms. When a dog accidentally swallows an infected flea, worms can hatch in the dog’s intestines. These types of tapeworms can also be transmitted to humans as well. Animal carcasses such as rodents and rabbits may also contain tapeworms, so be sure to keep your pets away from them at all costs.

Dog worms can also be contracted from other pet’s feces, which can be easily be found in parks, on pet runs, and even in your own backyard. Whipworm and roundworm eggs can remain infectious for years, and hookworm larvae can multiply in the soil in and around a dog run, park or yard.

Symptoms of Worms in Puppies

Symptoms of dog worms include:

·Change in your dog’s appetite
·Coughing and hiccupping (due to heartworm)
·Diarrhea
·Distended abdomen in puppies
·Dull coat
·Inability to exercise
·Vomiting
·Weakness
·Weight loss

How to prevent Worms in Puppies

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent worms in puppies and dogs. One of the most important ways to prevent a serious worm infection is to have your pet screened for worms twice per year – especially female dogs that can become pregnant. If your dog is considered high-risk for worms, you should have him screened more than twice a year. High-risk dogs typically live in condensed urban areas and they usually live in a home with more than one pet. Show pets and hunting dogs are also considered high-risk. Caring for a dog with worms should be done only under the care of a vet. Most non-prescription medications don’t work. Your vet will have access to a number of cutting edge preventatives that are extremely effective against the most aggressive types of parasites such as roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, and heartworm.

In addition to preventative measures, it’s also a good idea to keep your puppy clean and well groomed. You should also dispose of feces immediately. Never leave it in piles around your yard, dog run, etc. If you notice any of the symptoms

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