Types of Worms Found in Puppies

Puppies are often born with worms of some kind. Left untreated, worms can cause your puppy to become malnourished and can even lead to death in some cases. Furthermore, worms are contagious and can be transmitted not only to other pets but to humans as well. There are four kinds of worms that most commonly infect the digestive system of puppies.

  1. Roundworms

    • Roundworms can be transmitted to a puppy by its mother while it is in the womb and after it is born. Roundworms can be detected in your puppy's feces, but other symptoms associated with roundworms are a thinness with a distended tummy, a dull coat, vomiting and diarrhea. Puppies should be treated for roundworms at two weeks and every two weeks after until the puppies reach eight weeks. To prevent reinfection, the mother should be treated during this time as well.

    Hookworms

    • Hookworms are a type of parasite that attach to the intestinal wall and feed on your puppy's blood. Symptoms associated with hookworms are weight loss, weakness and dark or tarry stools. Hookworms also cause puppies to become anemic. The parasite can be transmitted through the mother's milk, through skin contact with larvae and by eating larvae. Puppies should be treated very early for hookworms since infestation can be deadly and symptoms can begin as early as a few weeks after birth.

    Tapeworms

    • Tapeworms, much like hookworms, are also found in puppies' intestines. They can be transmitted to your puppy through fleas and the worms can be detected in your puppy's feces. Otherwise, there are not many complications that arise from your puppy's tapeworms. A veterinarian can prescribe a medicine for your puppy's tapeworms and the condition is easily treatable. However, the parasite is easily transmitted to humans. Surgery may be required to treat an infestation in humans and it can be deadly if undetected.

    Whipworms

    • Whipworms are another parasite that attaches to the intestines, particularly the lower intestines, in order to feed. Symptoms that manifest from a whipworm infestation include diarrhea and colic. However, an infestation may not be immediately apparent as it may take several months for eggs to become visible in the feces. Because of the strange time line of a whipworm's life, treatment can be difficult and must occur three weeks and then three months after the initial treatment.