The Different Kinds of Dog Worms

There are several different kinds of dog worms. These worms live in a dog's bloodstream and intestines. Nearly every puppy is born with roundworms, contracted from the mother. Adult dogs acquire worms from the feces of an infected animal. It is important to understand the different types of dog worms, as treatment is specific to the type of worm.

  1. Flatworms

    • Flatworms, also known as flukes, are non-segmented and completely flat. Flukes can infest in your dog's intestines, liver or lungs. Snails and fish transmit intestinal flukes and your dog can contract this parasite by feeding on raw fish or food containing fish products. Flukes are in ponds and lakes as well and your dog can contract them by drinking contaminated water. When flatworms enter your dog's body, they embed in the intestinal wall and cause intestinal inflammation. Your dog may not show immediate signs of a flatworm infestation; however, in severe cases your dog may have bloody diarrhea.

    Roundworms

    • Roundworms live in your dog's intestine. These worms are approximately 3 to 5 inches long and do not attach themselves to the intestine, but they do produce eggs which cannot be seen with the naked eye but are visible in your dog's feces with the use of microscope. There are several species in the roundworm family that inhabit different body parts: small intestine worms (hookworms, thread worms), colon (whipworms), stomach worms, esophageal worms, heartworms, lungworms and worms in the urinary tract and kidneys (dictophymae, capilaria) as well as the eyes. Adult roundworms are long and visible to the naked eye in your dog's stool.
      Since roundworms affect several different organs, finding these worms depends on the body organ in question. For example, eye worms are sometimes found during an eye exam, while worms in internal organs may create lesions.

    Tapeworms

    • Tapeworms are segmented and range from 8 inches to 2 feet long. The tapeworm attaches itself to your dog's small intestine with its mouth. Over time, the segments of a tapeworm break off and appear in your dog's stool and these segments contain eggs. There are different types of tapeworms. Eating fleas contracts dipylidium caninum. This is the most common type of tapeworm. Rural dogs that live around animals such as sheep, mice, and rats can acquire taenia taeniaformis. Echinococcus granulosum is found in mice and humans.