Roundworms are a common health issue in dogs and puppies. These parasites can cause serious issues if not treated properly. Here’s what to know about roundworms in dogs and puppies:

What Are Roundworms in Dogs?

Roundworms (also called nematodes or ascarids) are one of the most common health problems in dogs. These worms are a type of parasite and are found in a dog’s intestinal system. Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara canis (T. Canis) are the two main species of roundworms to be aware of. T. Canis is the most serious of the species and most commonly infects puppies. It can be transmitted to people, as well.

These parasites feed off partially digested food, taking important nutrients from the dog. This is especially dangerous for puppies if they have a large amount of roundworms present as it can affect growth.

Roundworms may complete a life cycle in young dogs. However, as the puppy grows and their immune system reaches maturation, the larvae of the roundworm will be encased in a cyst. These encysted larvae can then stay in the puppy’s muscles. The encased larvae can remain dormant in a dog’s tissues, even if the adult worms were eradicated.

How Do Dogs Get Roundworms?

Dogs can get roundworms in a few different ways:

1. From Their Mother

The most common way a puppy gets infected with roundworms is from their mother. When a female dog becomes pregnant, the dormant larvae become active again. The roundworm is then passed to the puppies either in utero, after birth, or through the milk. These reactivated larvae can also stay in the mother’s body and cause illness.

If an adult dog swallows roundworm eggs, the larvae hatch. These larvae will then travel through the intestines and settle into several different tissues of the body. Here, the larvae stop developing and become dormant in cysts until a dog becomes pregnant.

2. By Ingesting Roundworm Eggs

Puppies and dogs may become infected with roundworms if they happen to ingest roundworm eggs. These eggs can be found in dirt, plants, or dog poop. There are a few reasons why dogs eat poop, so be sure to supervise your dog while outside to prevent them from eating any possibly contaminated source.

If your dog doesn’t normally eat poop, and has suddenly started trying to, pay attention and call your vet. Dogs will sometimes eat poop and a lot of other things if they are lacking nutrients. It could be a sign that you need to switch or supplement their food, or that something else is going on, like parasites or illness.

3. Eating Animals Carrying Roundworm Eggs

Rodents and birds are just a few of the animals that can transmit roundworm eggs. When a dog eats one of these animals, roundworm eggs will then infect and grow in the dog.

What Are the Symptoms of Roundworm?

Symptoms of roundworms in dogs and puppies are often caused by the roundworms taking nutrients the dog needs. In very few cases, a dog may have roundworms and not show any symptoms. However, there are specific symptoms that show up when a dog is infected with roundworms. There are symptoms you never ignore in your dog and can include:

• Stunted growth
• Vomiting
• Coat looks dull
• Swollen abdomen
• Diarrhea, ranging from mild to severe and may have mucus present
• Visible worms in vomit or feces
• Coughing

During a physical exam, your vet may also see fluid in the belly, kidney masses, or a fatty liver.

How to Get Rid of Roundworms in Dogs

If your vet has diagnosed your dog with roundworms, treatment is straightforward and very effective. Many safe treatments are readily available to get rid of roundworms in the intestine like milbemycin and pyrantel. Roundworms usually die a few days after the medication is administered. Heartworm treatments can also be effective against roundworm but your vet will advise you on the best option.

Because these treatments are most effective at targeting adult worms, but not the eggs or the larvae, your vet may recommend recurring treatments every two weeks. If multiple treatments are required, the number of treatments will be based on the age of your pup as well as their overall health. Treatment is really important to prevent future infections.

How to Prevent Roundworms in Dogs

It’s very important to prevent roundworms in dogs. Proper treatment is the most successful way to do this but there are some other ways to minimize infections. A dog eating their poop is a common dog behavior so be sure to get rid of your dog’s poop as soon as you can, so they can’t eat it. You should always clean up after your dog, especially in areas where other dogs, animals, or humans frequent.

In order to prevent the spread of roundworms, diligent hygiene is important. Proper hygiene and thorough cleaning of surfaces are always important, but even more so with an infected puppy or dog. Following some home cleaning tips for dog owners like covering your furniture and investing in a good vacuum cleaner can help keep your home clean and inviting!

If your dog is pregnant, make sure to deworm them closer to the birth of their puppies. This can help prevent infections in newborn puppies. Puppies should start getting dewormed consistently at 2 weeks.

Consistent heartworm treatments are important in any dog or puppy. These preventive treatments kill adult heartworms as well as adult roundworms, which can prevent these eggs from getting into the environment. This can prevent other animals from ingesting infected eggs, slowing the spread of roundworms.

Can Humans Get Roundworms From Dogs?

Although ringworm is one of the diseases you can spread to your dog and vice versa relatively easily because it spreads through direct skin contact, humans can get roundworm from their dogs too.

Although it’s rarer because it’s harder to spread, humans can become infected with roundworms if they swallow any larvae. Human infections most commonly happen when someone ingests roundworm eggs, which can happen from touching contaminated surfaces or coming into contact with infected feces.

Are Roundworms Dangerous to People?

Roundworms are a parasite that poses health risks to any host. When a person swallows infected eggs, the larvae can attach to various organs. The majority of humans that become infected do not exhibit symptoms.

But, if they do, those symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain as well as coughing. In very rare cases, a roundworm infection can cause liver problems. Children are the highest risk group to experience health problems if they contract a roundworm infection, especially if they ingest a lot of infected eggs.

This is just an overview of what to know about roundworms in dogs. Since they can cause health problems, it’s very important to treat your dog and eradicate the parasites. Thankfully, proper treatment can help protect your dog and keep them healthy!