Like most of the people, you probably consider your dog a member of the family. But do you know your loving pet could pose a health risk for all in the family? Learning about canine parasites will not only help you protect your dog, but also yourself, your family and your love ones – especially since some of the dog intestinal parasites that infect dogs can also infect humans through what is known as zoonosis.

The major types of canine intestinal worms are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. You need to know how to prevent your dog from being infected by these intestinal parasites.

Click here to watch video on how you can prevent heartworm in dogs and puppy.

More about canine intestinal parasites prevention.

The bodies of tapeworms are actually made up of a head from which a series of segments will grow.

So how do dogs get tapeworms? They become infected with Taenia pisiformis tapeworms by eating rabbits, which may carry the infective stage of this worm.

Dogs may also become infected with other species of tapeworms by eating fleas that carry the infective stage.

The life cycle of tapeworms in dogs:

Residing inside the small intestine of the dog, tapeworms attach to the intestinal wall by means of suckers in their heads.

A long series of segments trail from the head as tapeworms continue to grow. Taenia pisiformis can reach a length of 80 inches (200 cm).

Tapeworm segments containing eggs continually break off and are passed in the infected dogs’ feces. The segments, which look like grains of rice, may be seen in the feces or clinging to the hair on dogs’ hindquarters.

Small mammals, such as rabbits and squirrels, can serve as intermediary hosts for Taenia pisiformis. Small cysts in the muscle of these animals contain young tapeworms.

When a dog eats an animal carcass, it also ingests these cysts. Once inside the dog, tapeworms grow to adult stage.

Symptoms of tapeworms in dogs and the resultant health risks.

While large tapeworms can take up a lot of space in the intestines, they seldom cause severe problems for dogs.

With severe worm infections, intestinal upsets can vary from diarrhea to constipation.

Since the parasites may interfere with the absorption of nutrients, mild weight loss or slow growth may also occur.

Segments, which cling to infected dogs’ hindquarters, can cause irritation. As a result, dogs may scoot or drag their rear end across the floor.

Health risk to people: zoonosis

It is very rare for canine tapeworms to be transmitted to humans.

Canine Tapeworm Treatment

Treatment and control of canine tapeworm infections involves the use of dog dewormers that effectively remove the tapeworm head, as well as the segments.

This canine intestinal parasite is quite prevalent throughout the U.S., especially in adult dogs. To become infected with whipworm, dogs accidentally eat whipworm eggs (while grooming, for example).

Dogs become infected by accidentally eating whipworm eggs (while grooming, for example).

The life cycle of canine whipworms in dogs:

After being swallowed, whipworm eggs starts to hatch in the stomach. The larvae invade the wall of the small intestine, where they continue to grow.

Eventually (in approximately 2 ½ months), adult whipworms attach to the lining of the large intestine and cecum (a blind pouch where the small intestine meets the large intestine), where they feed on the dog’s blood.

Adult canine whipworms lay eggs that are expelled in the feces of infected dogs. The eggs must remain in the soil for 2 to 4 weeks to mature before they can infect new hosts.

Whipworm as Health risk to dogs

Like hookworms, dog whipworms attach to the lining of the intestines and suck the dog’s blood, but they are generally less harmful and lead to fewer health problems.

A small number of whipworms may not cause any signs, but a heavier infection can lead to diarrhea, weight loss, blood loss and anemia.

Health risk to people: zoonosis

Canine whipworms rarely infect people.

Whipworm infections in humans are usually caused by a different (non-canine) species of whipworm which otherwise known as Trichuris trichiura.

Canine whipworm treatment
Because most canine worm treatment products are not effective against whipworms, extra care must be taken when choosing a dog dewormer for whipworms.

Fenbendazole is highly recommended and is commonly used to control these parasites.

1. Knowledge is power—learn about dog worm prevention!
2. Start by learning as much as you can about dog worm infections, so you know what you’re up against.
3. How can you tell if your dog has worms: look out for changes in your dog’s behavior, and learn to recognize signs of canine intestinal parasites, such as:
4. worms or small white objects that look like grains of rice in your dog’s stool, fur or quarters; rear end scooting or dragging; round belly, low energy, diarrhea and/or vomiting; or… no sign whatsoever (which is common in adult dogs)!
5. Learn to recognize and avoid potentially contaminated areas—and teach your children to do the same.
6. And Good hygiene is crucial.
7. Pick up and dispose of your pet feces immediately, before worm eggs and larvae have a chance to contaminate the environment.
8. Cover sandboxes when not in use.
9. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and running water after picking up feces, or after handling your dog – especially before eating or preparing food.
10. Discourage your dog from licking people, especially on the face.
11. Do not let your dog eat feces, raw meat or animal carcasses.
12. Keep your dog on a leash as much as possible.
13. Help reduce the canine worm burden in our environment.
14. The presence of worm eggs and larvae in the environment is one of the main reasons canine intestinal worm infections are so widespread.
15. Some types of intestinal worm eggs and larvae can actually survive for months – years even! – in the environment under extreme conditions.
16. The best way to reduce what is known as the worm burden is to control canine intestinal worms in our own dogs, so they don’t shed worm eggs and larvae in their feces and contribute to the spread of worm infection.

Dog worm prevention

Take your dog to the veterinarian on a regular basis and set up a canine parasite control program adapted to your region and also to your lifestyle.

Deworm any new dog that joins your family immediately upon arrival, and again two weeks later.

DO NOT rely just on monthly heartworm prevention products to protect your dog from intestinal worms.

Heartworm prevention products may not cover all major intestinal worms in dogs.
Because of the life cycle of some worms, administering a product for one day only once a month may not effectively eliminate all parasites.

Supplement your dog’s heartworm prevention program with regular deworming (at least twice a year), using a broad-spectrum worm treatment for dogs that is safe and effective against the major intestinal worms that infect dogs.

If we all do our part in prevention of dog worm, we can win the battle against these nasty dog parasites.

Dog hookworm symptoms and the resultant health risks.
Adult dog hookworms use their “teeth” to attach to the lining of the dog's small intestine, and suck large amounts of blood.

This can lead to intestinal distress with dog hookworm symptoms like diarrhea, black stools, weight loss, failure to grow properly, white gums, severe blood loss, anemia, and even death.

When larvae enter through the skin opening, the dog may experience severe itching and discomfort.

A dog who survives an initial attack by hookworms may develop a degree of immunity or tolerance. In this case, the dog may appear normal, even though worms may be present, and eggs may be found by a veterinarian conducting a fecal examination.

Health risk to people: zoonosis

Dog hookworm infections are zoonotic – and can therefore be transmitted to human beings.

People can be infected by eating hookworm eggs and larvae that are shed in the environment.

Hookworm larvae can also enter the body through the skin. This can occur in sand boxes, beaches and play or work areas where people might come into contact with hookworm larvae.

As they move through the skin, hookworm larvae can cause severe itching and painful, tunnel-like rashes. This is called cutaneous larva migrans, also known as plumber's itch or creeping eruption.

Until recently, it was believed that canine hookworms did not to pose a zoonotic threat to humans. There have, however, been confirmed cases of enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine) from hookworm infections in young children.

Dog hookworm treatment

A dog infected with hookworms should be treated with a fast-acting, highly effective and safe dewormer, such as fenbendazole. This should be followed by a second treatment, two weeks later.

In severe cases, blood transfusions and supportive therapy may be required.

In the case of parasite roundworm infections, dormant hookworm larvae can be activated in pregnant female dogs, and transmitted to puppies through the placenta or through their mother’s milk.

Dogs can also be infected accidentally by eating hookworm eggs and larvae.

Parasite infection can also occur through the larvae penetration of the skin or the lining of the mouth.

The life cycle of canine hookworms in dogs

When hookworm larvae penetrate the skin, these parasites are carried by the blood to the lungs. The larvae are coughed up and then swallowed to establish residence in the small intestine.

When a dog eats larvae, some of them may migrate through the lungs, but most of the parasites only penetrate the intestinal wall. A few days later, they return to the gut, where they will mature into adults.

Like roundworms, adult canine hookworms produce eggs that are expelled in the feces of infected dogs, and thus contaminate the environment.

Hookworm eggs survive well in mild temperatures, shade and moist soil or grass.

Although direct sunlight, drying out and freezing will destroy most hookworm eggs, there are still some are extremely resistant to cold temperatures.

More about the canine hookworms treatment at Dog Hookworm Symptoms and Canine Hookworm Treatment

The larvae of one of the roundworms – Toxocara canis – lie dormant in the tissues of most of the adult female dogs. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can activate these larvae, which then migrate through the placenta to infect the unborn puppies.

Some immature forms of canine roundworms can also be transmitted through the nursing mother’s milk, although this is a less common route of parasite infection. Puppies can also become infected by eating dirt or feces containing worm eggs and larvae, by licking contaminated fur or paws, or even by drinking contaminated water. Most adult dogs become infected through contact with worm eggs and larvae in the environment.

The life cycle of canine roundworms in dogs

After being swallowed, the roundworm eggs hatch in the dog’s stomach. The larvae then invade the stomach wall, and are carried by the blood to the liver.

From there, they migrate to the lungs, are coughed up, and are re-swallowed.

The parasites worms eventually make their way to the small intestine, where they spend their adulthood and produce eggs (more than 100,000 eggs per day!).

In adult dogs, canine roundworm larvae can migrate to tissues and become dormant. The dormant larvae are reactivated during pregnancy and are spread through the placenta to the unborn puppies.

While most infected adult dogs show no sign of infection, they continue to shed worm eggs and larvae in their feces, and can quickly contaminate a large area, contributing to the spread of infection.

Worm eggs and larvae can survive for many months in the environment, even in extreme conditions – which may help explain why intestinal worm infections are so widespread.

More about the symptoms of roundworms in dogs