By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Spotting something wriggling in your dog's poo is unpleasant, but it is usually not an emergency. What you do in the next hour still matters. A quick photo, a sealed sample and a clean-up before the eggs reach the soil will help your vet identify the worm and stop it spreading to other pets and family members. The shape of what you see is a good first clue, though not everything that looks like a worm is one.
Key takeaways
- Spaghetti-like worms are usually roundworms. Flat, rice-like segments are tapeworm.
- Hookworms and whipworms are rarely visible, so a clear-looking poo does not rule them out.
- Take a photo and collect a fresh sample for your vet.
- Pick up and bin the poo straight away, wearing gloves, and wash your hands.
- A puppy with worms plus vomiting, bloating or weakness needs a vet urgently.
What are you looking at?
- Long, round, white or cream worms, several centimetres long, often coiled: roundworms, especially in puppies.
- Small flat segments that look like grains of rice or cucumber seeds, sometimes moving: tapeworm segments, often from the flea tapeworm. Dried segments on the fur look like sesame seeds.
- Thin, thread-like worms: could be whipworms, though these are seldom seen. Very fine white threads may also be other parasites.
- Tiny, fast-moving white larvae in poo that has been sitting outside: often fly maggots that arrived after the poo was passed, not worms from your dog.
- Things that are not worms: undigested rice, pasta, grass, string, fur, mucus strands and bits of chew toys.
Hookworms are tiny and attach to the gut wall, and the hydatid tapeworm is only a few millimetres long. Neither is normally seen with the naked eye.
Step by step: what to do now
- Take a clear photo next to an object for scale.
- Collect a sample. Use a glove or bag to put a small, fresh piece of poo (and any visible worm) into a clean, sealed container. Refrigerate it, away from food, if you cannot get it to the vet within a few hours.
- Clean up the rest and bin it. Do not hose it into the garden.
- Wash your hands thoroughly, and keep children and other pets away from the area.
- Check for fleas on all pets if you saw tapeworm segments.
- Write down when your dog was last wormed, the product used and your dog's current weight.
- Call your vet or book a consult to confirm the type and plan treatment.
Other signs to watch for
- Diarrhoea, with or without blood or mucus
- Vomiting, sometimes with worms
- Pot belly or poor growth in puppies
- Weight loss, dull coat or low energy
- Pale gums
- Scooting or licking under the tail
When to see a vet
Emergency now: a puppy or dog that is weak, collapsed, has very pale gums, a swollen belly with repeated vomiting, or black or heavily bloody diarrhoea.
Same day: a puppy with worms and diarrhoea or vomiting, or any dog that is lethargic or off food.
Within a few days: a bright, eating dog with worms or segments seen. Bring your sample and photo.
How vets confirm and treat worms
Your vet will look at the sample, and may run a faecal flotation test to find eggs of worms you cannot see. Treatment depends on the type of worm. Not every wormer covers every worm. Tapeworm needs a product with tapeworm activity, and whipworm needs a product that specifically covers it. Some worms need repeat treatment over several weeks. After worming, it is common to pass dead worms for a day or two.
For more on the most common types, see hookworms, whipworms in dogs and tapeworm in dogs.
Preventing it happening again
- Keep to a regular worming schedule for your dog's age and lifestyle.
- Treat every pet in the home for fleas.
- Pick up poo daily in the yard and on walks.
- Avoid raw offal and stop scavenging where possible.
- Worm new puppies and new dogs as advised before they mix with other pets.
FAQ
Do I need to worm my other pets too?
Often yes, since they share the same environment. Ask your vet, and remember cats need cat-specific products.
Can I catch worms from my dog?
Some dog worms can infect people, mainly through accidentally swallowed eggs or, for hookworm, through bare skin. Good hygiene keeps the risk low.
The worms were in old poo in the garden. Does that count?
Poo that has been outside for a while often attracts fly larvae. Check a fresh sample before assuming your dog has worms.
My dog was wormed last week and I still see worms. Is that normal?
Dead worms often pass in the first couple of days. If they keep appearing, speak to your vet about whether the product covered that worm type.
Talk with a vet
A Dial A Vet consult is a quick way to show a vet your photo and get advice on next steps. A weak, collapsed or bloated dog, or a puppy that is vomiting and lethargic, needs an in-person emergency vet now.
References
- Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC): Intestinal Parasites of Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastrointestinal Parasites of Small Animals
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: How often should I worm my dog?
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. Always follow the label and your vet's advice when using parasite products.
