If you notice any of these clinical signs, call your vet as soon as possible.

Coughing (if the worms invade the lungs).

Weight loss (despite voracious appetite).

In addition to seeing worms in your dog's poop, intestinal worms may also cause: Dogs who are smaller, younger and/or have a compromised immune system may be more prone to developing worms in their poop than others. Worms are obligate parasites that get all of their nutrition from their host. Dogs can become infected with tapeworms if they accidentally ingest a flea that contains tapeworm larvae. Dogs can also become infected with worms by accidentally ingesting dog poop that contains worm eggs or eating an animal that's infected with worms.

A mother dog can pass worms to her puppies in the womb or when nursing. Keep in mind that ringworm, which is also seen in dogs, isn't actually a worm but a fungus.ĭogs can contract intestinal worms in several ways. Worms not only live in the stomach and intestines, but they can also be found in the heart, kidneys, lungs and other organs. The type and number of worms a dog is infected with are also important to note. Your dog's health, size and age will play a large role in how intestinal worms will affect their overall health. How Do Worms Affect Your Dog and Their Health? If you want to keep your dog free of worms, keep reading to learn more about how to spot worms in your dog's feces and how they may affect your dog's health. These parasites may often go undetected as well if your dog isn't taken in for routine checkups with your veterinarian for microscopic worm eggs in dog poop. Worms can often cause a variety of health concerns as they're highly contagious.

Intestinal parasites including hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms are common in dogs. As a pet parent, you may be shocked to find worms in dog poop - but you're not alone.

Cat threw up long flat white worm