Protecting Your Dog and Your Family from Common and Harmful Intestinal Parasites
As a loving dog owner, you provide a safe home, nutritious food, and plenty of affection. But some of the most common threats to your dog’s health are invisible to the naked eye. Intestinal parasites, or “worms,” are a frequent and serious issue for dogs of all ages, capable of causing everything from mild discomfort to severe, life-threatening illness.
At San Marcos Veterinary Clinic, we view routine deworming and parasite prevention as a fundamental part of your dog’s basic healthcare. A proactive and consistent plan is the only effective way to protect your dog from these internal pests and, in some cases, to safeguard the health of your human family members as well.
The Importance of Dog Deworming Treatment: Common Parasites
There are several types of intestinal worms that commonly infect dogs in our area. The most frequent culprits include:
- Roundworms: Very common in puppies, who are often born with them after being infected by their mother. Adult dogs can get them by ingesting infective eggs from contaminated soil or feces. Roundworms live in the intestines and steal vital nutrients from your dog.
- Hookworms: These tiny parasites “hook” onto the intestinal wall and feed on your dog’s blood. In puppies or small dogs, a heavy hookworm infestation can cause severe, life-threatening anemia.
- Whipworms: These worms live in the large intestine and can cause chronic diarrhea and weight loss. Their eggs are very hardy and can survive in the environment for years.
- Tapeworms: Dogs typically get tapeworms by swallowing an infected flea. You may sometimes see rice-like segments of the worm in your dog’s feces or around their hind end.
- Giardia: A single-celled protozoan parasite that can cause significant diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset.
Understanding the Need for Regular Dog Deworming Maintenance
It’s a common misconception that only dogs in unclean environments get worms. The reality is that any dog can be exposed to intestinal parasites through normal, everyday activities.
- From Their Mother: Puppies are very often infected with roundworms or hookworms either before birth or through their mother’s milk.
- From the Environment: Parks, hiking trails, backyards, and even sidewalks can be contaminated with microscopic worm eggs from the feces of other infected animals. Your dog can pick them up simply by sniffing or licking the ground.
- From Fleas: The most common way a dog gets tapeworms is by swallowing an infected flea while grooming.
- From Hunting: If your dog catches and eats a small rodent or bird, they can become infected with worms carried by that animal.
Because the risk of exposure is constant, a proactive approach to prevention and screening is essential.
Our Approach to Dog Deworming Treatment
Our goal at San Marcos Veterinary Clinic is to keep your dog parasite-free with a simple and effective plan tailored to their age and lifestyle.
- For Puppies: Because puppies are almost universally born with worms, we recommend a series of deworming treatments starting at a very young age to clear any existing infections and give them a healthy start.
- Annual Fecal Exams: For adult dogs, we recommend an annual fecal exam. You bring us a small stool sample, and we examine it under a microscope to screen for the presence of parasite eggs. This is the best way to catch hidden infections.
- Monthly, Year-Round Prevention: The most effective way to protect your dog is with a monthly, broad-spectrum parasite preventive. Most modern heartworm preventives also include medication to control and prevent roundworms and hookworms, providing comprehensive protection in one easy, chewable dose.
Protecting Your Dog From Parasites: Common Questions about Dog Deworming Treament
Protecting your dog from internal parasites is a crucial part of their care. Here are our answers to some common questions:
How would I know if my dog has worms?
In many cases, you wouldn’t see any obvious signs, especially in the early stages. As an infestation becomes heavier, you might notice symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss, a dull coat, a pot-bellied appearance, or scooting their rear end on the ground. Occasionally, you may see visible worms in their stool or vomit. Because the signs are not always obvious, routine screening with a fecal exam is the only way to be sure.
What is a fecal exam and why is it important?
A fecal exam is a simple diagnostic test where we examine a small sample of your dog’s stool under a microscope. The adult worms live inside your dog’s intestines and shed microscopic eggs, which are passed in the feces. The exam allows us to identify these eggs, which tells us if your dog is infected and, if so, with what type of parasite. This ensures we can prescribe the most effective deworming medication.
Why shouldn’t I just buy a dewormer at the pet store?
Different types of worms require different types of medication to treat them effectively. Without a proper diagnosis from a fecal exam, you might be using a product that is ineffective against the specific parasite your dog has. The deworming medications we prescribe are proven to be safe and highly effective against the diagnosed infection.
Can I get worms from my dog?
Yes, several common canine intestinal parasites—most notably roundworms and hookworms—are zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted to people. Humans, especially children, can become infected by accidentally ingesting the microscopic eggs from a contaminated environment. This is why keeping your dog on a regular prevention schedule and practicing good hygiene (like washing hands after picking up stool) is so important for your whole family.
If my dog is on a monthly heartworm preventive that also controls intestinal worms, do they still need a fecal exam?
Yes, we still recommend an annual fecal exam. While these broad-spectrum preventives are excellent, they don’t protect against every single type of parasite (like whipworms, tapeworms, or Giardia). The annual fecal exam is a valuable safety check that ensures your dog is completely clear of all common intestinal parasites and that your prevention strategy is working perfectly.
How soon after getting a new puppy should I have them dewormed?
You should bring your new puppy in for their first wellness exam and deworming as soon as possible after they join your family, typically within the first week. Because puppies are so commonly infected by their mothers, it is safest to assume they have worms and begin a deworming protocol right away to protect their health and prevent the spread of parasites in your home.
A simple plan of routine screening and monthly prevention is the best way to keep these unseen threats from harming your dog.
To schedule an exam or to discuss the best deworming plan for your dog, please call the friendly team at San Marcos Veterinary Clinic at (760) 744-5400 or connect with us through our contact form.
