Dogs can be victims of intestinal parasites known as worms. These parasites can cause mild symptoms such as stomach upset and diarrhea, but if left untreated, they can ultimately lead to the death of your pet. Worms in dogs are more common than you think, so every pet owner should know the symptoms and treatments to get rid of these pests.
One study showed that worm prevalence in dog populations can be as high as 54.3%, depending on location (Katagiri et al. 2008). In a pet store in Atlanta, 52% of puppies had at least one type of parasite.
The most common types include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Some of these worms can be seen in your dog's stool or vomit, while others can only be discovered through testing at your veterinarian's office.
Signs your dog might have worms include:
- diarrhea, sometimes with worms or blood
- weight loss
- dry hair
- vomiting (sometimes with worms)
- general poor appearance
- bloated stomach or belly
This article will review the different types of worms and ways to help prevent them. As with any medical problem, it's best to seek veterinary care if you need help preventing, diagnosing, and treating worms in your pet.
ALSO READ: How to Deworm a Dog – A Guide for Pet Owners
13 Ways to Deal With Worms in Dogs
1. De-Worming Drugs
Deworming drugs, also called anthelmintics, have been shown in clinical trials for decades to be effective against pinworms, hookworms, and whipworms in dogs (McCowen et al. 1957).
In general, deworming drugs work by selectively targeting a particular site on the parasite, such as a protein, forcing them to release their hold on your dog’s intestinal wall. This makes it easier for your dog to excrete the worms from its body.
The most commonly prescribed canine deworming medications include the following:
- Levamisole
- Niclosamide
- Praziquantel
- Albendazole
- Diethylcarbamazine
- Ivermectin
- Tiabendazole
However, it is important to note that deworming drugs for dogs typically contain a chemical called Fenbendazole.
Fenbendazole does have some side effects, which have been shown in studies. For example, it may cause bone marrow hypoplasia (Gary et al. 2004), vomiting, depression and lethargy, diarrhea, anorexia, and even death in some animals (Gozalo et al. 2006). Other common ingredients in dog deworm drugs, pyrantel and praziquantel, have similar negative side effects. They're uncommon, but it's worth keeping in mind.
2. Fruits and Vegetables
Feeding your pet fruits and vegetables may help treat and prevent worms. Raw carrot, watercress, greens, squash, fennel, papaya, or pumpkin can help make your dog’s intestinal tract less attractive to worms.
Carrots contain Vitamin A, which can help eliminate roundworms. For example, one animal study showed that Vitamin A deficiency reduces the frequency of antibody secretion by B lymphocytes that target parasite antigens (Carman et al. 1992).
Papaya at 2, 4, and 8 g per kg has an antiparasitic effect to eliminate intestinal worms in mammalian hosts (Satrija et al. 1995). Who knew that feeding your pooch fruits and vegetables could have such amazing health benefits?
Deworming your dog with fruits and veggies isn't the only reason to add them to your dog's diet. Plenty of research points to the benefits of both vegetables and fruits for dogs and how they can improve your dog's diet.
3. Coconut and Coconut Oil
Coconut is a vermifuge, meaning it can help eliminate tapeworms. Plenty of research supports the health benefits of both coconut and coconut oil. In one study, adding 60 g of coconut for 8 days resulted in complete elimination of worms from the animal’s feces after 9 and 20 days (Mehlhorn et al. 2011).
Coconut shells have also been traditionally used in Indian cultures for deworming. This is due to an alcohol extract in the shell with antifungal properties, which may help fight many types of parasites in the body (Venkataraman et al. 1980).
Several other studies have shown the effectiveness of coconut extracts and coconut oil in fighting intestinal parasites in different animals (Lima 2015; Costa 2010; Ghaffar 2011). In short, because coconut oil is known to be safe for canines, it can help fight worms in dogs and improve many other health factors.
4. Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes
Probiotics are microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, that can be added to food to support the host's intestinal flora. Probiotics help maintain a good balance of healthy gut bacteria and strengthen your dog’s immune system. We've also seen that maintaining a dog's healthy gut microbiota is important for dealing with dog worms.
Studies show that supplementing with Enterococcus faecium, a common probiotic, has an immune-stimulating effect in young dogs, which may help them fight off these parasites more effectively (Benyacoub et al. 2003). Supplementing with Lactobacillus acidophilus improved gut health in dogs by modifying gut microbial populations (Swanson et al. 2002). A healthier intestinal system can make it easier for your dog to fight off parasitic infections, particularly the most common types of dog worms.
While some dog food brands include probiotics in their formulas, studies show that the amounts are so insignificant that they will not affect the dog in any way (Weese et al. 2003). The only way to add probiotics to a dog's diet is through the exact dosage of probiotic supplements and some foods.
Digestive enzymes can support your dog’s digestive system and help eliminate parasites. For example, papain can kill worms and is best taken 30 minutes before or after meals. Digestive enzymes can keep your dog's gut healthier, which helps the body fight off worms more easily.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar has been a favorite of dog owners for decades, and there are scientifically proven reasons for that. For starters, it has a natural alkalizing effect on the body (Shahidi et al. 2008).
An alkaline system can prevent diseases and cure existing infections by increasing the body’s oxygen intake in dogs. Cutting down on acidic foods and increasing foods that alkalize the system can help eliminate parasites when they’re present in the gut. Some studies suggest that other similar acidifying products may help dogs fight off yeast and intestinal infections (Matousek et al. 2003).
6. Pumpkin Seeds
A few days ago, we published a full science-based review of pumpkin seeds for dogs and their effect on the canine population. Beyond their health effects, feeding raw pumpkin seeds can also help prevent or expel worms.
In one study, researchers tested pumpkin seeds to evaluate their effect on Schistosoma japonicum, a parasite. In animals, pumpkin seeds reduced worm load to one-quarter that of the control group. Pumpkin seed treatment in subjects with severe schistosomal liver and heart damage resulted in a 22.6% parasite sterilization rate.
Pumpkin seeds have been studied as an anti-parasitic remedy for decades (Xiao et al. 2010). More studies now show the effect of pumpkin seeds against parasites in dogs, humans, and livestock (Grzybek et al. 2016).
To get the best results from pumpkin seeds, roast and grind the seeds, then mix them with your dog’s regular food to help prevent worms. In fact, while pumpkin is a good and healthy treat for dogs, based on what we've seen so far in research, it doesn't come close to the powerful effects of pumpkin seeds.
RELATED: Can Humans Get Worms From Dogs?
7. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a naturally occurring siliceous rock that can be ground into a fine powder with many health benefits. In one study with livestock, DE fed to animals reduced the number of parasites in their fecal eggs (Bennett et al. 2011). DE also improved overall animal health, as shown by increased weight and feed efficiency.
Diatomaceous Earth hasn't been well studied in dogs, though one study demonstrated its safety when administered correctly (Wagner et al. 1968). In many other animals, particularly farm animals, DE has been shown to be an effective tool to fight worms and other parasites, as well as to be used as an insecticide (Hosseini 2004; Alves 2006).
8. Chamomile
Chamomile is a traditional medicinal herb used for a number of ailments, including inflammation, muscle spasms, worms, parasites, and gastrointestinal disorders. It has been studied for years, and several studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in killing worms and their eggs (Kheirabadi et al. 2007; Hajaji et al. 2017).
In addition, chamomile has been shown to effectively eliminate leeches, another natural parasite. In fact, chamomile killed leeches after only 232.22 ± 45.19 minutes (Buhmani et al. 2015).
Chamomile also benefits people's and dogs' gastrointestinal systems. These benefits include soothing the stomach and relaxing the muscles that move food and parasites through the intestines (Srivastava et al. 2010).
9. Black Walnut
Black Walnut contains an active ingredient called juglone that is highly toxic to insect herbivores (Dama et al. 1997). Studies have shown that juglone can eliminate parasitic worms. However, there are some side effects to black walnut ingestion if given at the wrong dose, including vomiting, diarrhea, and gastritis.
In particular, it may be dangerous to dogs due to its negative effects and can potentially cause syndromes with musculoskeletal and neurologic signs. In one study of 93 dogs, exposure to a higher amount of black walnut tree results in all of these signs, including vomiting (Coleman et al. 2016). Thus, consult a vet beforehand.
10. Garlic
The anti-parasitic effects of garlic have been known for decades. Garlic clove juice was shown to inhibit Fusarium, a pathogenic bacterium that produces spores, indicating antifungal properties.
Garlic treatment in Swiss mice had an anthelmintic effect against A. Tetraptera, with a 91.24% success rate (Ayaz et al. 2008). In vitro data also suggest that garlic has antiviral and antibacterial effects.
Onions and garlic are toxic to dogs and can be extremely dangerous, even in small doses. Keep this in mind. However, some proponents (usually holistic veterinarians) claim that very low doses of garlic may benefit dogs' health and help fight worms.
However, the dangers of garlic cannot be overstated. Further to already known toxicity (Salgado et al. 2011), although there are no studies to confirm it, ingestion of cloves may also be associated with miscarriages in pregnant dogs.
11. Olive Leaf
Olive leaf has antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Olive leaf at a dose of 600mg was shown to kill parasitic leeches in an average time of 145 ± 77.57 minutes (Karamati 2013).
The active ingredient in olive leaf is a chemical called oleuropein. Oleuropein triggers cell death in unicellular protozoan parasites, such as Leishmania. Oleuropein also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with side effects such as bloating caused by worms in the gastrointestinal tract.
12. Slippery Elm
Slippery elm is an herbal remedy traditionally used in North America to coat and soothe the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. In general, slippery elm is a laxative that can soothe mucous membrane irritations caused by intestinal worms (Hawrelak et al. 2010).
Furthermore, a proprietary formula containing slippery elm bark can cause several pleasant and unpleasant gastrointestinal effects: a significant increase in bowel movement frequency, bloating, abdominal pain, and improved stool consistency. More frequent bowel movements can help expel parasites from the dog's body.
Some proponents of slippery elm for dogs and cats have touted its benefits for years, including helping with worms and tummy troubles.
13. Keep Your Dog’s Area Clean
Finally, and most importantly, take care of the environment around your dogs. Although various foods or supplements can help prevent parasites, the best approach may be to keep your dog’s area clean.
We don't need evidence for that, but studies repeatedly show that fecal samples may harbor parasites; in some cases, parasites in stool samples can be as high as 51% (Bugg et al. 1999).
In general, worms are contracted through contact with contaminated soil or dog feces. In fact, evidence suggests that dog feces are the primary source of parasite transmission to other dogs and even humans (Traub et al. 2002).
A survey shows that only about one-third of dog owners do not understand how worms are transmitted. Therefore, proper education and management may help to minimize the zoonotic transmission of parasites (Robertson et al. 2002).
Intestinal worms in dogs are as unpleasant as they sound. A dog with them may act benign at first, but the discomfort and irritation in its intestinal tract will only grow if left untreated. Once these parasites enter the muscular tissue and bloodstream, the danger to your pet only increases.
Fortunately, natural and pharmaceutical treatments can help stop the spread of worms and eventually fight them off. The key is to notice the signs, act quickly, and prevent dog worms as often as possible.
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