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 undoubtedly hard to spot but look out for vomiting and diarrhoea as well as general loss of condition.There are two types of worms in dogs: roundworms and tapeworms.

Roundworms

Roundworms can appear to be coiled in the shape of a spring, can grow to around 10cm in length and are pale white or beige coloured. You might be able to see them in your dog’s faeces or sick. The way in which dogs become infected with roundworms is by eating their larvae, allowing adult worms to develop inside the 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 Toxocara 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. The larvae can potentially damage children’s eyesight if they reach the eyes. This is one of the main reasons why dog owners should always pick up after their pet.

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. Dogs become infected with tapeworms by swallowing fleas carrying their larvae whilst grooming. Once inside the dog, the adult worm can grow up to 5 metres in length.

As with most conditions the old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ is true of worms in dogs. It is therefore important to ensure your dog is wormed every three months. Puppies should be wormed even more regularly than that. Many effective wormers are available from pet shops and veterinary surgeries at affordable prices: ask your vet for the most appropriate one.