How to Identify Parasites in Animals

Internal parasites in animals are sometimes hard to identify until the disease has progressed. Parasites such as heartworm can only be identified through a blood test. Hookworms and roundworms are identified through looking at the stool. Worms are the most common parasite and generally live in the digestive tract, intestines and heart of animals and cause symptoms such as weight loss, lethargy and diarrhea. If the disease is left untreated, it can lead to severe illness and death.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the stools of young animals such as puppies and kittens for roundworms. Roundworms are round and white and will coil into disks that can grow up to five inches long. These worms are found in the digestive tracts of animals and come from ingesting the infected mother's milk or from an infected animal such as a rat. Physical symptoms used to identify this illness include a thin and dull coat, vomiting, diarrhea, a cough and a pot-bellied appearance.

    • 2

      Look for whipworms in the stools of animals such as dogs. These worms are found in the lower end of the digestive tract and are thin, threadlike shapes that look like whips. They grow about an inch long and are very difficult to see. These worms are contracted from licking the ground or eating feces that are infected. Other symptoms to look for are bloody diarrhea streaked with mucus, along with anemia, weakness and weight loss.

    • 3

      Recognize hookworms in an animal by checking the stool. It is found in the small intestine and is transmitted through the mother's milk or feces. It looks like long strings of spaghetti and is extremely difficult to see. It is a dangerous disease because it is usually asymptomatic. The most common sign to look for is black, tarry diarrhea. Other symptoms include such things as blood loss, lethargy, poor appetite and anemia.

    • 4

      Inspect the anal area of an animal for tapeworms. Tapeworms come from eating an infected flea or from eating raw meat such as fish, beef and pork, or an infected rodent. The worm forms in the intestine and passes out the anus, it is flat and off-white in color and moves back and forth. It is most commonly seen in the hairs around the anus but also can be seen in the stool or on bedding. It has the appearance of a grain of rice.

    • 5

      Test the blood at a veterinarian's office for heartworm. This disease is carried by the mosquito and infects the heart, blood vessels and lungs surrounding the heart. It is a severe disease, that if left untreated leads to death. The worm can grow five to 12 inches long and is round and white in appearance. Physical symptoms used to identify this disease are weight loss despite eating well, coughing, heavy breathing, tiring easily and a swollen belly and legs.