7 Signs of Intestinal Parasites in Dogs
Intestinal parasites in dogs are a fairly common problem all over the world. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, one in 50 dogs test positive for hookworms in the United States. There are several intestinal parasites that infect dogs, some of which cause gastrointestinal distress and weight loss and can be spread to humans and other animals.
In this article, you will learn about the types of intestinal parasites in dogs, the symptoms of intestinal parasites, and how intestinal parasites are diagnosed, treated, and prevented.
Types of Intestinal Parasites in Dogs
Dogs can carry a variety of intestinal parasites, including the following intestinal worms that live in the gut and cause problems:
Dogs can also carry microscopic protozoan parasites that can cause diarrhea and weight loss, including:
How Do Dogs Get Parasites?
Dogs acquire intestinal parasites in a variety of ways. The manner of infection depends on the parasite. Dogs can commonly become infected with intestinal parasites by ingesting a parasite egg from the environment – either by eating poop or an animal carcass, snuffing up contaminated soil, or drinking contaminated water. Some intestinal parasites can be transmitted from mother to puppies while they are still in utero or via nursing.
Dogs that are in locations with high-density populations, such as kennels, animal shelters, and dog shows, or those that visit dog parks or doggie daycare, are at higher risk of acquiring intestinal parasites. Dogs that have compromised immunity are also at higher risk of an intestinal parasite infection.
7 Symptoms of Intestinal Parasites in Dogs
Abdominal distension
Dogs that are carrying intestinal worms, especially roundworms, often have a swollen, pot-bellied appearance. This is due to inflammation in the gut caused by the parasite.
Weight loss
Intestinal worms steal nutrients from dogs, which can result in weight loss despite a normal or increased appetite. These dogs often have a poor haircoat and an unthrifty appearance because they are not getting enough nutrients despite eating normally.
Belly pain
Intestinal parasites can cause painful inflammation in the gut. Hookworms (voracious, blood-sucking worms that bite the lining of the gut) can also result in a serious stomach ache. Additionally, worms can sometimes cause an obstruction in the intestines, which is also painful.
Worms in stool
One obvious sign of intestinal parasites is seeing worms in the stool. You may see flat, white worms, worms that look like spaghetti, or rice grains that are adhered to the fur around the anus.
Stool changes
Intestinal parasites in dogs cause gut inflammation, which affects stool quality. Dogs with worms may have normal stool, or they may experience diarrhea or constipation. If infected with hookworms, they may have black, tarry stool that indicates digested blood. Dogs with giardia may have mucoid diarrhea.
Weakness
If a dog has lost a significant amount of weight due to a heavy worm burden, they may be weaker. Those who have lost a lot of blood to hookworms will appear weak and lethargic and have pale gums.
Cough
Sometimes worms don’t stay in the intestines. They can migrate to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, causing inflammation and coughing.
All of these signs are more severe in puppies and very small dogs. Puppies in particular can die from a heavy worm burden if not treated promptly and properly. If you see these signs in your dog, regardless of whether you think they have intestinal parasites or not, visit your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you think your dog’s life is in danger, get there immediately.
The signs of intestinal parasites in dogs can be acute (happen all of a sudden), chronic (occur for more than two weeks), or intermittent. The tricky thing about intestinal parasites is a dog can be carrying them and not show any signs at all. That’s why it’s a good idea to have your dog’s poop checked every year at their annual examination.
Diagnosing Internal Parasites and Dog Worms
If you suspect that your dog may have intestinal parasites, or if you notice any of the signs listed above, call your veterinarian. Most veterinarians will want to conduct a physical examination on a dog before they prescribe treatment. They will test your dog’s poop for parasites, so be sure to bring a fresh sample in a sealed container.
The veterinary staff will take the sample and run such tests as:
- Fecal float microscope test that makes parasite eggs easier to detect (this is also the only way parasites are detected in asymptomatic animals)
- Fecal direct smear microscope to look for parasites
- Fecal culture to determine if there is a bacterial infection
- Additional specialized tests for specific parasites, such as an antigen test for Giardia
It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis on the cause of your dog’s symptoms, as the symptoms of intestinal parasites can be mimicked by other more serious diseases that require alternative treatment. Additionally, different intestinal parasites require different treatments, so be sure to see your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Intestinal Dog Parasite Treatment
Fortunately, most intestinal parasites are easy to treat with a broad-spectrum dewormer. Your veterinarian will prescribe the correct medication to kill adult worms and larvae. Typically, treatment for intestinal parasites is outpatient and doesn’t require hospitalization. Some of the common dewormers that are prescribed include:
- Febantel or Fenbendazole: used to treat many parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, lungworms, whipworms, and some rare species of tapeworms
- Ivermectin: used to treat hookworms and roundworms
- Pyrantel Pamoate: used to treat intestinal roundworms and hookworms
- Praziquantel: used to treat tapeworms
- Metronidazole: used to treat Giardia
If your dog is being treated for worms, don’t be surprised if you see dead worms in their feces during and after treatment. Even though it’s gross, it’s a good thing.
Preventing Intestinal Canine Parasites
Don’t forget – humans can get worms and Giardia from dogs, but in addition to being easy to treat, most intestinal parasites are easy to prevent. In fact, most heartworm prevention medication also includes broad-spectrum protection against intestinal worms. So if you protect your dog against heartworms year-round, you’re usually protecting them against intestinal worms as well – but always check with your veterinary provider to confirm.
Additional parasite prevention recommendations include:
- Picking up after all animals in your yard regularly
- Not allowing your dog to investigate or eat animal feces
- Having your dog’s feces tested annually for parasites
By practicing intestinal parasite awareness and utilizing parasite prevention and common sense, you can keep intestinal parasites out of your dog and out of your life.
