What happens if a dog has parasites

Adult whipworms are smaller than roundworms and may be visible to the naked eye, but they are uncommonly seen as adults in the feces. These worms can cause:. Roundworms are visible to the naked eye they look like spaghetti and can be seen in feces or sometimes vomited or coughed up as single worms or in clusters. They can cause:. Humans can also contract hookworm and roundworm infections if they accidentally ingest contaminated soil or feces.

Frequent hand washing and wearing shoes and appropriate clothing outdoors can decrease the chance of exposure. Humans can be exposed through dogs, usually by coming into contact with their contaminated waste.

Theoretically, it may be possible to contract roundworms by petting a dog, if the dog had recently rolled outside in the dirt and picked up either contaminated soil or fecal material on their fur. Roundworm larvae have been identified in several cases of acute blindness and retinal detachment in humans. People can get hookworms by walking barefoot, although there have been cases of people developing lesions on their back or shoulders after lying on the ground with no shirt on. It is rare, but hookworm larvae can also survive in the intestine and grow to adulthood in a human host, which can cause intermittent and recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and cramping.

Tapeworms can be passed to humans much like they are transmitted in dogs—by ingesting an infected flea. Once the flea is swallowed and absorbed in the digestive tract, the tapeworm larva can attach to the wall of the intestine. Canine whipworm infections are species-specific and not typically considered a zoonotic threat to humans.

If you think your dog might have worms, you should schedule an appointment with your regular veterinarian right away. If your vet is suspicious of hookworms , roundworms , or whipworms , they will be looking for individual microscopic eggs in the sample.

Occasionally, you may also see an adult worm in the fecal sample, which can be extremely helpful for identification. Once your veterinarian has had a chance to examine your dog and analyze the fecal sample, they will determine the best type of deworming medications to treat the worms that are present.

Your veterinarian may prescribe an oral or injectable dewormer that will kill the adult and larval worms. Oral dewormers do not generally cause severe side effects. Praziquantel is also available as a one-time injectable treatment for tapeworm infections, which works by paralyzing and dislodging the sucker of the worm from the intestinal wall, allowing the worms to be passed in the feces. Injectable dewormers may cause a local injection site reaction, including pain, swelling, and local inflammation due to its viscous nature.

The infective larvae then inhabit the soil around the feces, leaving other dogs, and children, vulnerable to accidental ingestion and subsequent infection. Roundworm-infected puppies and kittens often have a pot-bellied appearance. Because most parasites produce only eggs, you cannot rely on seeing any worms to know your pet is infected. Fecal testing for larvae is the only way a diagnosis can be made. Treatment varies with infection type and severity.

We may prescribe an anti-parasitic medication and antibiotics. If your pet has a recurring infection, she will need dedicated care to prevent reinfection, because recontamination from the environment and reinfection are always possible.

Routine deworming is the easiest and least expensive way to prevent your pet from developing a sustained parasitic infection. In addition, you should keep your dog away from community or high-traffic dog areas, such as sandboxes, walking paths, and dog parks, if possible. Good personal hygiene, such as washing your hands before eating and not walking barefoot outside, are good preventive measures for people.

This basic information should help arm you against these unwelcome visitors to your pet and in your home, and, fortunately, preventive treatment is inexpensive and easy. Infected dogs may pass segments of tapeworms in their stool. These may be visible and resemble little pieces of rice. Sometimes affected dogs may scoot their bottoms along the ground. If your vet finds eggs or tapeworm segments, your dog will receive a treatment regimen to eliminate the tapeworms.

A drug is administered orally or by injection. Treatment also involves ridding any fleas from your dog and your home environment. Hookworms are intestinal parasites that cause anemia in dogs and can be fatal in puppies if left untreated. Several different kinds of hookworms can affect dogs. Infected dogs can pass hundreds of microscopic eggs in their stool, where they hatch and can remain alive in soil for as long as several months.

A dog may eat the infected dirt or lick it from the bottom of its paws, or sniff infected dog feces. Humans can also become infected with hookworms. Hookworms are diagnosed with a microscopic examination of a stool sample called fecal flotation, when the stool is mixed with a solution that causes the hookworm eggs to float to the top. Dogs are treated with deworming medications , usually administered twice — to catch the adult worms and then two-to-four weeks later to catch those that are newly developed.

Dogs get whipworms from ingesting an infested substance, which can include soil, food, water, feces, or animal flesh. The eggs can survive for up to five years in suitable environments warm and moist , which is one of the reasons why cleaning up after your dog immediately is so important for general sanitation and health.

But in severe cases, they can lead to inflammation, weight loss, diarrhea, and occasionally anemia. Whipworm eggs are not as easy to find on all fecal samples and false negatives are not uncommon, which is why repeat fecal exams are recommended if your dog is exhibiting signs of blood in their stool. Of all of the types of worms in dogs, the most worrisome — and the most preventable — are heartworms. Mosquitoes transmit the parasite, and since avoiding mosquitoes is nearly impossible in most places, vets recommend regular heartworm preventatives to keep your dog safe.

Heartworms grow and multiply within the heart, causing severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and ultimately leading to death if left untreated. According to the U. Food and Drug Administration , heartworm disease is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries, but it has been reported in dogs in all 50 states.

In addition to dogs, coyotes, wolves, and foxes can be carriers. Prevention is the best approach to dealing with heartworms. Treatment is lengthy, expensive, and can have serious side effects.