Intestinal Worms in Dogs: What Every Dog Owner Should Know

Intestinal worms are among the most common health issues dogs face. The good news is that they're usually easy to diagnose, treat, and prevent when caught early.

Many dogs with worms look completely healthy, making routine fecal testing and parasite prevention an important part of keeping your dog healthy.

What Are Intestinal Worms?
Several different parasites can infect a dog's intestines, including:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Whipworms
• Tapeworms

Each affects dogs a little differently, but all can impact your dog's health if left untreated.

How Do Dogs Get Worms?
Dogs can become infected by:

• Sniffing or eating contaminated feces
• Walking through contaminated soil
• Hunting rodents or wildlife
• Swallowing fleas (tapeworms)
• Nursing from an infected mother
• Visiting areas where infected dogs have been

Because parasite eggs can survive in the environment for months, even clean-looking areas may still harbor parasites.

Signs to Watch For
Some dogs show no symptoms.
Others may develop:

• Diarrhea
  
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Pot-bellied appearance (especially puppies)
• Poor coat quality
• Scooting
• Worms visible in stool or around the rear end
• Low energy

Heavy infections can become serious, particularly in puppies.

How Veterinarians Test for Worms
Your veterinarian typically diagnoses intestinal worms through:

• Fecal flotation (microscopic examination)
• Fecal antigen testing
• Occasionally identifying visible worms or tapeworm segments

Routine annual fecal exams are recommended—even if your dog appears healthy.

How Are Worms Treated?
Treatment depends on the type of parasite but usually includes:

• Prescription deworming medication
• Repeat treatments when necessary
• Follow-up fecal testing
• Monthly parasite prevention for ongoing protection

Prompt cleanup of feces also helps prevent reinfection.

Can They Be Prevented?
Absolutely.
You can reduce your dog's risk by:

• Picking up feces immediately
  
• Keeping dogs on year-round parasite prevention (Try Simparica, Nexgard, Bravecto)
• Scheduling routine fecal exams
• Preventing flea infestations
  
• Avoiding contact with contaminated areas whenever possible

How The Blue Hound Helps Protect Your Dog
Parasite prevention is a team effort.

At The Blue Hound, we help protect every guest by:
✔ Reviewing medical and vaccination records
✔ Monitoring wellness before visits
✔ Turning away dogs showing signs of illness or known contagious parasites
✔ Using veterinary-grade disinfectants throughout the facility
✔ Cleaning indoor and outdoor spaces daily
✔ Staying informed about parasite activity and illness trends in Cowlitz County and nearby communities
If a dog has recently visited a facility experiencing a contagious illness or parasite outbreak, we may recommend postponing their visit to help protect every guest.

When Should You Call Your Veterinarian?
Contact your veterinarian if your dog has:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Worms visible in stool
• Bloody stool
• Loss of appetite
• Any signs of illness in a puppy

Early diagnosis makes treatment easier and helps prevent spread to other pets.

The Bottom Line
Intestinal worms are common, but they don't have to become a major problem. Routine fecal testing, monthly parasite prevention, prompt cleanup, and good sanitation dramatically reduce the risk of infection.

At The Blue Hound, we combine veterinary-grade cleaning, wellness screening, medical record reviews, and local disease monitoring to help create a cleaner, healthier environment for every dog in our care.

Veterinary Sources

• Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC)
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• Merck Veterinary Manual
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine