Responsible dog owners should understand the consequences of worms in dogs and the potential harm they can cause to people too. Worms in dogs are internal parasites which can lead to ill health in dogs as well as humans.

Often, there are no outward signs of ill health until the worms in dogs have already caused damage. Worms in dogs are difficult to spot, but be alert for general loss of condition, sickness and diarrhoea. Roundworms and tapeworms are the two types of worms in dogs.

Roundworms

Pale white or beige in colour, roundworms look as though they are coiled like a spring and may grow up to 100mm long. They might be visible in your pet’s faeces or vomit. Dogs become infected with roundworms when they ingest their larvae, permitting the adult worms to develop inside the dog’s body. The eggs are then passed out in faeces, allowing the worm’s life cycle to be completed. Unfortunately, the most common type of roundworm is dogs is Toxocare Canis and it can have devastating effects on human children.If children ingest the eggs through contact with contaminated soil, the larvae can migrate through their bodies. If they reach the eyes, the larvae can potentially damage the eyesight. For this reason, dog owners must always pick up after their dog.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms look like flat segments filled with moving eggs which resemble grains of rice and which you may be able to see in your dog’s faeces or around his anus. Fleas carry tapeworm larvae so dogs become infected when they swallow fleas whilst grooming. An adult worm inside the dog can be as long as 5 metres.

With worms in dogs, as with many conditions, it is true that prevention is better than cure. Therefore worming your dog every three months is important. Puppies should be wormed even more regularly than that. You can buy effective worming medication from both pet shops and the vet’s surgery: your vet will be able to advise you which is best.

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