Updated: 21/08/2024
Worms, such as roundworms, tapeworms and lungworms, are parasites that can be picked up by dogs and live inside their bodies.
Regular worming means that any worms picked up by your dog can be dealt with quickly, and helps to prevent further health problems.
Promptly picking up and disposing of dog poo also helps to stop worms from spreading.
Puppies need to be wormed more often than adult dogs, and your vet will be able to advise you on the best worming plan for your dog.
For further advice and information about worming, please contact your local vet practice
What are worms?
When we talk about ‘worms’, we are referring to a type of parasite that can be picked up by your dog and live within their body. Dogs can get different types of worms.
There are four types of worm which can live inside your dog’s intestinal (digestive) tract.
These are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms. Dogs can also get lungworm, which live in the heart and blood vessels in the lungs.
Intestinal (digestive tract) worms:
Of the intestinal worms that can infect dogs, roundworm and tapeworm tend to be the most common.
Roundworms
These worms live in the intestines (guts), can look a lot like spaghetti and can sometimes be seen in vomit or poo!
Puppies will often catch these worms from their mother via her milk.
These worms can cause variable symptoms, from mild tummy upset through, in the case of heavy burdens, to intestinal blockages particularly in very young dogs.
Tapeworms
These worms live in the small intestines, and are made up of many segments which can be passed in the poo and look like grains of rice.
You may also spot these segments stuck to your dog’s bum, in the surrounding fur or on their bed when they get up (gross!).
Your dog may get tapeworm from eating dead animals (e.g. rodents or rabbits), but it is also possible for fleas to pass tapeworm on to your dog, so keeping on top of flea prevention is also important to avoid this type of worm.
Hookworms
These are small worms with a hook-like mouth that drink your dog’s blood by attaching to the wall of their intestine.
Thankfully these aren’t common in the UK, although they are found in Europe, so this is something to be aware of if you travel with your pet.
Whipworms and threadworms
These worms live further down in the digestive tract and tend to cause fewer symptoms in pets than other types of intestinal worm. They are also uncommon in the UK, especially in dogs.
How do you know if your dog has worms?
Many pets can carry intestinal worms with no obvious signs, although those that are struggling with a heavy worm burden may show signs of:
- Tummy upset, including vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Have a swollen, pot-bellied appearance.
- Worms in their vomit, poo or around their bum.
- Losing weight while still having a good appetite.
- Low energy and dull coat.
- An itchy bottom and scooting (tapeworm).
It is important to note that other diseases can also cause the signs listed above, so if you are ever concerned about your dog’s health, the best course of action is to seek advice from your vet.
Preventing and treating intestinal worms in dogs
Annoyingly, there is no way to completely prevent your dog from picking up worms, but worming them regularly will ensure that any worms they do pick up are promptly dealt with!
How often should I worm my puppy or dog?
Puppies will need to be wormed much more frequently than adult dogs.
Due to the risks of them acquiring roundworms from their mum’s womb or milk, they are also at greater risk of becoming very poorly if they have a high worm burden.
Generally, it is recommended that they are wormed every two weeks until 12 weeks old, then monthly until six months old.
How often an adult dog needs to be wormed will depend on their individual situation and how likely they are to pick worms up.
Many adult dogs will be wormed at least every three months. Your vet will be happy to discuss this with you and come up with a tailored worming plan.
Worm treatments come in different formulations, including tablets or spot-ons.
Worms can also be transmitted between pets, so if you have a multi-pet household it is important to make sure everyone stays up to date with their worming treatments.
Veterinary Nurse Claire Kealey (RVN) says:
“Regular deworming in puppies and dogs is so important as puppies can actually be born with worm burdens which then cause chronic gastrointestinal problems and lungworm in dogs can be life-threatening. Humans are also susceptible to picking up roundworms, especially children, so therefore all dog-owners need to be responsible in keeping their pets up to date on worming treatments, for their pet’s safety and the safety of others.”
Can I catch intestinal worms from my dog?
Unfortunately, some intestinal worms can pose a risk to human health too, although this is rare.
For example, roundworm eggs are shed in dog’s poo and can also contaminate the surrounding soil.
If these eggs are accidentally ingested by a human, the eggs then develop into larvae which are carried in the blood and may cause serious health issues such as loss of sight, lung or neurological problems.
Thankfully, this is very rare, but taking sensible measures such as promptly cleaning up dog poo, not allowing children to play where dogs go to the toilet, thorough hand washing and regularly worming your dog are all sensible steps to avoid this.
Lungworm
Lungworm can cause several health issues for our dogs, some of which can be very serious and even life threatening.
Dogs become infected by accidentally (or purposefully!) eating slugs or snails carrying immature lungworms.
Adult worms then live in the heart and blood vessels in the lungs of infected dogs and may cause issues such as:
- Coughing.
- Breathing problems.
- Abnormal bleeding.
- Weight loss.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhoea.
- Low energy.
It is important to note that not all slugs or snails carry lungworm, but this disease is becoming more common, with certain areas of the UK posing a greater risk.
Thankfully, humans are unable to catch lungworm, but it still poses a real risk to our dogs.
The good news is there are preventative treatments which can be used as part of your dog’s usual flea and worming routine to ensure they are protected against lungworm, and your vet will be happy to come up with a tailored plan for you based on your dog’s individual risk.
But what about heartworm?
You may have heard about heartworm in dogs. The good news is that this type of worm is not present in the UK, but it is something to be aware of if you have adopted a rescue dog from overseas, or plan to travel to a country where heartworm is present.
These worms are spread by mosquitoes, and they can cause serious health issues for your dog.
If you are worried about heartworm in an imported dog or need to discuss heartworm prevention for travel plans, your vet will be happy to offer you further advice.
If you have any further questions or are concerned your dog may have worms, then please reach out to your local veterinary practice for further support.
Useful resources:
- PDSA – Preventing worms
- Blue cross – Intestinal worms in dogs