Table of Contents
🪱 Common types of dog worms
Here are common signs that your dog may have worms!
✅ What you should do
🛡️ Prevention Tips
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How to tell if your dog has worms
- By Dr Zoe Costigan
-
- February 2, 2026
- 2 MIN READ
Your dog having worms isn’t something to joke about. Worms can be seriously harmful to your pet and you should treat them as quickly as possible. Scroll to find out the signs and symptoms of dog worms, and how to deworm your pet safely.
There are a few different types of worms that can infest dogs with roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms being the most common. Each can look a little different and cause different symptoms. Click here to see what worms look like!
🪱 Common types of dog worms
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Roundworms – spaghetti-like, common in puppies
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Tapeworms – rice-grain segments
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Hookworms – cause anemia, blood loss
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Whipworms – chronic diarrhoea
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Heartworms – live in heart/lungs (very serious)
Here are common signs that your dog may have worms!
🧠 Behavioural & General Signs
Worms can be hard to spot until they are severe. If they have one or more of these, it’s a clear sign that your pet has worms.
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Lethargy (low energy)
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Loss of appetite or sudden increased hunger
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Weight loss despite eating normally
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Dull coat
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Weakness or sluggishness
💩 Digestive Symptoms
Due to worms living in the gut, when infested your pet’s stomach and bowels could be affected. Look out for these symptoms:
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Diarrhoea
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Vomiting
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Blood or mucus in stool
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Swollen or bloated belly (especially in puppies)
👀 Visible Clues
Worms can be obvious. You might even spot them in your home. Here’s what to look out for:
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Worms in poop or vomit
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Rice-like segments around anus or bedding (tapeworms)
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Long spaghetti-like worms in stool (roundworms)
Other Symptoms
Your pet might be prone to coughing if they have heartworms or lung migration. In severe cases, your dog might become anemic - If this happens, contact your vet immediately.
Protect your pet from worms.
Intestinal worms can cause serious health issues for your pet and your family, but with a regular de-worming schedule you can protect your pet, home and family from these persistent parasites.
Itch Wormer tablets kills all common intestinal worms and prevent larvae from hatching and multiplying, until your pet's next regular treatment.
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✅ What you should do
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Check stool, looking for worms or segments.
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Visit the vet for a faecal test (this is the best way to be sure).
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Use vet-approved dewormer like Itch Wormer Tablets for Dogs which target all common parasitic worms.
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Clean all living areas to prevent reinfection
🛡️ Prevention Tips
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Ongoing parasite prevention meds
This will support keeping your pet worm free. Subscribe to an Itch Pet Wellness Plan tailored bespoke for your dog and delivered exactly when you need it, for free.
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Flea control
Did you know fleas spread tapeworms? So it’s crucial to treat your pet with flea preventative as well as dewormer! Try the Itch Flea Treatment for Dogs which protects against fleas and their eggs to ensure no pests bother your furry friend. Click here for a first month of FREE flea treatment!
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Clean up after your dog
You should always pick up your pet's poop up quickly, no matter where it is.
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Regular vet checkups
By checking your dog into the vet for routine appointments, worms can be spotted quicker. We understand that this could be a financial burden for some, so if you have any burning questions you need asking, contact our flea and worm specialists, whom are qualified in parasite prevention to support you and your pet. Get in touch!
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Keep an eye on your dog
Avoid your dog eating raw prey or garbage. By watching out for them, you can keep them safe.
These are the most common signs that show your dog has worms. You can always visit a vet for a stool sample to double check your suspicions are correct. It’s important to know that some dog worms can infect humans (especially children), so treatment is crucial to keep you, your family and your pet safe. For more information on worm contagion, click here!
Protect your pet from fleas, ticks and worms.
Vet strength flea and worm treatments, tailored to your pet and delivered for free, every month, so you never forget.
Itch Flea kills adult fleas on your pet in 24 hours and halts all other flea life stages. Itch Wormer kills all common intestinal worms and prevents newly hatched larvae from growing and multiplying.
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