How to Identify Grubs in Animals

Pets, farm livestock and wild animals are at risk from a wide range of larval parasites. Some larvae are microscopic, but in other cases you can see maggots, worms or other types of grub wriggling in the animal's droppings, in the hair around its ears, paws or tail, or in open wounds. The animal's behavior may also alert you to trouble. If your pet shows any signs of infestation, you should consult a veterinarian, who will be able to identify the parasite precisely by examining the animal or samples of feces in the clinic.

Things You'll Need

  • Fine-toothed comb
  • Spatula
  • Screw-top jar
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Instructions

  1. Skin Parasites

    • 1

      Feel the animal's skin for small firm lumps with a tiny hole on the top -- the cyst or "warble" that forms around bot-fly larvae and cattle grubs (cuterebra). Look for an inflamed rash on the lower body, which can show where larvae have penetrated before migrating to other areas of skin.

    • 2

      Check for fly strike (myiasis) on open sores, leaky eyes or damp folds of skin, where fly eggs hatch into maggots that feed on living tissue

    • 3
      Fleas can transmit parasites into the blood stream.

      Check your pet's coat and ears every day for blood-sucking pests such as fleas, lice and ticks. Comb its hair thoroughly. Watch out for fleas and lice moving among the hair roots and for any flea dirt and nits (louse eggs) you comb out during grooming.

    • 4

      Look for bleeding spots and greenish lesions under the skin in cattle, as these are a sign of filarial parasites.

    Intestinal Parasites

    • 5

      Consult your vet about the possibility of intestinal worms, such as roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm, thread worm, pin worm or whip worm if you notice weight loss, distended belly, vomiting, diarrhea, dull coat and lethargy, especially in dogs and cats.

    • 6

      Inspect your pet's feces, tail area, paws and bedding for roundworms, which look like thin spaghetti, and for tapeworm segments, which look like grains of rice.

    • 7
      Malnourishment with a swollen belly may be a sign of worms.

      Check your horse's droppings for red, segmented blood worms if it has colic, ulcers or diarrhea. Consult your vet, as other types of worms may also be present.

    • 8

      Use a spatula to put a specimen of feces in a screw-topped jar if the vet asks for a sample so that he can identify the type of parasite by laboratory tests.

    Heart Worm and Lung Worm

    • 9
      Heart worms can block an animal's heart and cardiac blood vessels.

      Take your cat or dog urgently to the vet if you see it coughing up worms, hiccuping, breathing with difficulty or vomiting persistently, as these may be symptoms of heart worm.

    • 10

      Call the vet to livestock, such as sheep, cattle or horses, if you notice coughing, difficulty in breathing, fever or foaming at the mouth. This can signify lung worm.

    • 11
      Check young animals every day for signs of illness.

      Act urgently in either case, as heart worm and lung worm can soon kill an animal, especially a young one.