Worms in My 3-Month-Old Yorkie

All puppies, including Yorkshire Terriers, can acquire worms when they are young. While weening, Yorkies often become infected with intestinal worms and these should be treated. You will likely know your puppy has worms because they can be seen in the stool. There are different types of worms that Yorkies can acquire at a young age, but at this stage they are not life threatening. You will want to see your vet if you believe your dog has worms.

  1. Flatworms

    • Infected by eating contaminated feces or drinking dirty water, flatworms cling to your Yorkie's intestines, liver and lungs. They differ in size and can go undiagnosed for some time because your dog will show no symptoms. Flatworms are also not visible to the eye and can only be detected by a doctor under a microscope. Your veterinarian will be able to treat your Yorkie with medicine.

    Roundworms

    • Living in your dog's intestines, roundworms are commonly found in puppies as they are transferred from their mothers. They are generally 3 to 5 inches long and have many names: heartworms, stomachworms or intestinal worms, for example. Symptoms may be non-existent but if your Yorkie is having multiple bouts of diarrhea or vomiting daily or seeming weak, it should be brought to a vet. Keeping your dog on a monthly heartworm protectant can help keep the most dangerous of these worms away.

    Hookworms

    • Your Yorkie may have gotten hookworms from his mother's milk or placenta, through his skin or by eating or smelling another dog's feces. An infected dog will experience bloody diarrhea, anemia and weight loss. You may find it has anemia by noticing the pink is missing from its gums. If the hookworm got in via skin, your dog may also be itchy. The vet will see hookworm eggs in your dog's feces to make the diagnosis. You can treat your Yorkie puppy with monthly pills to prevent hookworms.

    Tape Worms

    • Tapes worms can get as large as two feet long. They attach themselves to your Yorkie's small intestine and small sections of them break off to exit with the bowels. You may see small eggs that look like rice in your dog's excrements. Your dog may also vomit the tape worm up or scratch its butt across the floor. These worms are not dangerous and come from eating fleas. Protecting your dog against fleas is the best way to prevent tape worms.