Worms are the parasitic organisms that can cause a lot of dog health problems, especially if the immune system of your dog is not strong enough to check their population.

The major symptoms of dog worms are:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Low energy level
• Coughing
• Pot-bellied appearance
• Appetite loss
• Weight loss
• Dull coat

Other symptoms are a red, scurfy, pimply or irritated condition of the skin, a hot, dry nose, watery eyes, pale lips, gums and foul breath. Wormy dogs will eat dirt and rubbish. Some days they are ravenously hungry, the next day they will not eat at all; their sleep is disturbed by intestinal rumbling and dreams, the urine is high colored and frequently passed, bowels irregular, stomach easily unsettled, watery mucus is frequently vomited and the mouth is hot, sticky and full of ropy saliva. A wormy dog is generally an unhealthy and unhappy dog. It could even be deadly, particularly so for young puppies.

Cause of Worms in Dogs
Many people believe that most of the dogs are borne with worms, passed on from their mothers. But, even if they are not born with worms, they can easily come to the contact of these parasites, by consuming worm infested foods. Many times, this may be a result of feeding uncooked or half-cooked meat or fish. Besides this, dogs are omnivorous and they can eat almost everything, including dead animals and feces, for which they can easily contract intestinal worms. Sometimes, mosquito bites can also spread worms, especially heartworms from an infected animal to a healthy one.


Dog worms symptoms usually play a crucial role in the proper diagnosis of the condition. However, veterinarians have to perform some other tests like stool analysis, to identify the particular type of worm. To cure dog worms, veterinarians would prescribe some wormer or medications like ivermectin, pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel, fenbendazole and milbemycin oxime. The treatment and medication can vary considerably, depending on the types of worms that have infected your dog. To ensure timely diagnosis and treatment, the dog owners should remain vigilant for the symptoms of worms in dogs. Also important, is maintaining cleanliness, feeding well-cooked foods, especially meat and fish, and keeping your dogs away from dead animals and feces, to prevent worm infestation.

Lungworm and Heartworm