Intestinal worms are quite common in dogs as there are several types and lots of ways in which they can be picked up, but they are quite easy to treat and prevent. They don’t usually lead to serious illness but can make your dog feel very unwell and can harm your dog if left untreated. Some worms can be passed to humans.  

What are the types of intestinal worms found in the UK?

There are four types of intestinal worms in UK: 

• Roundworm – causes the most serious type of infestation and 1 type of this worm can travel around the body to complete its lifecycle. Roundworm can be passed to a puppy through its mother’s milk. Puppies need to receive preventative medicine for this worm from a young age. They are visible to the naked eye so you might see them in faeces as they are long, white and spaghetti-like. Infestation can lead to a swollen belly and can cause bowel obstructions so if your dog has trouble having a poo this might be the cause. This infestation is serious in puppies.
• Hookworm – these little parasites are not common in UK but are in Europe. They are nasty as they hook into the wall of the intestine which can cause bleeding. Blood in faeces is a sign this worm might be the culprit. They absorb lots of nutrients from the gut causing considerable skin dryness so dogs infested scratch themselves far more than normal. This worm infestation is serious in puppies. These worms also travel around the body to complete their life cycle.
• Whipworm – these worms are so small they are invisible to the naked eye so you won’t spot them in faeces or vomit. The most common symptom is unexplained weight loss, but they aren’t common in UK.
• Tapeworm – these worms are spread by fleas so it’s important to prevent fleas as well as worms to keep your dog healthy. An infestation is easy to spot as sections of the worm regularly break off and are visible in faeces. They look like grains of rice.

How do I know if my dog has intestinal worms? 

There are a few tell-tale signs you might spot if your dog has picked up a worm infestation and it’s good to be vigilant and make sure you give your dog preventative medicine regularly, as directed by your vet. 

You may spot worms or eggs in their faeces or vomit. You may also spot worms around their bottom, stuck in their hair. If you find worms in their hair, collect some and put them in some damp tissue to take to your vet so they can be identified and your dog can be given the right treatment.  

Some worms can make your dog’s bottom itchy and so they may drag their rear end along the floor, the carpet or against the furniture; behaviour you are sure to spot! They might also scratch their bottom.  

A worm infestation can make your dog feel weak, listless and depressed. Tapeworms and hookworms absorb nutrients from your dog’s gut depriving them of nourishment, so they might be hungrier than normal while losing weight, or not gain weight despite eating more than usual.   

The lack of nutrients caused by several types of worms can make a dog’s coat dull and scruffy-looking and their skin dry and flaky. In severe cases of roundworm puppies can have bloated tummies. In cases of roundworm and hookworm dogs can develop a cough or in severe cases, Pneumonia.   

How do dogs catch intestinal worms?

Healthy dogs can pick up worms from other dogs or their environment at any time so it’s important to give then vet prescribed preventative medicine regularly.  

Puppies can ingest roundworm and hookworm eggs in their mother’s milk so it’s important to make sure the breeder you buy your puppy from worms their dogs regularly. Roundworms can be quite common in puppies so you need to ask your vet about worming puppies from a young age.  

Unfortunately, dogs like snuffling in and eating dead animals and faeces, so can catch worms by indulging in this natural, if unpleasant, behaviour.  

Worm eggs can stick to blades of grass or survive in contaminated soil for years so could be ingested at any time your dog plays outside. Fleas carry tapeworm eggs so your dog can become infested through eating fleas while grooming. This is why it’s also important to regularly treat your dog for fleas as well as worms.    

How do you prevent and treat a worm infestation in dogs?

Speak to your vet if you think your dog has worms and follow their prescribed treatment plan. If you do see worms and can collect some and take them to your vet in damp tissue, this can help with the diagnosis.  

Once an infestation clears up you will need to carry on treating your dog with preventative medicine year-round so that they don’t catch worms again. Some worms will require 2 treatments to get rid of them as fresh larvae can enter the gut after the first treatment. Treatments can be administered using spot-on skin treatments, injections or tablets.   

Preventing the spread of worms is a really good reason why owners should pick up their dogs faeces and dispose of them in dog poo bins!  

And one other worm you need to know about..

It’s worth knowing that there is another worm called lungworm that is common in some parts of the UK which is serious as they live in the heart and lung. This type of worm needs different treatment. Dogs can catch this worm through eating slugs and snails so if your dog is partial to escargot and relatives, you’ll need to ask your vet about lungworm prevention too.  

Although pet insurance doesn't usually cover routine care like worm prevention, it is an important financial safety net for owners faced with hefty vet bills when their dog falls ill or has an accident. Find out more about the pet insurance options on offer by consulting the tables on our compare dog insurance page.