No matter what breed of dog you have or how old it is, you have to regularly deworm it. After all, worms can make your dog sick and even kill it, especially when it’s young. If you wait until your dog’s worm load is heavy, the deworming process can be dangerous for them and sometimes even result in death. However, sometimes you only realize the importance of deworming after your dog already has worms.
So what should you do when this happens? Should you quarantine your dog with worms? Can you touch them? Will the worms crawl out of them and spread to other parts of your home?
Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about today. By the time you’re done reading this post, you’ll know how exactly to deal with dogs with worms. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be thoroughly informed.
What Are the Risks if I Don’t Quarantine My Dog with Worms?
If you don’t quarantine a dog with worms, you risk them reinfecting themselves over and over again, even when you offer treatment. Also, you risk your own infection and that of other pets. This is because worms are usually spread through direct contact.
As such, it’s possible that your dog got worms from interacting with infected dogs, the surfaces they touched, or even their feces. So if you let them wander around after infection, they can go back to the same contaminants and end up worse off, even if you just started treating them. They could also contaminate surfaces in your home, putting both you and your other pets at risk for worm infection. After all, the worm eggs can lay dormant on surfaces for long periods of up to 18 months.
Keep in mind, though – exposure to these eggs doesn’t automatically lead to worm infestation. Some dogs and people get infected easier than others. So if you want to give your other dogs a fighting chance, ensure you deworm them regularly – the PetArmor 7- Way Treatment is a particularly great option. It is effective against roundworms, tapeworms, and even hookworms.
Can a Dog without Worms Be Around a Dog with Worms?
No, dogs without worms can’t be safe around those with worms. They can contract the worms not only through direct contact with the infected dogs and their feces but also through fleas that have touched the infected. It’s also possible for the healthy dog to then spread the worms or their eggs to other pets or people. Ultimately, letting a healthy dog hang around one with worms is a risk to its health and that of any other pets or humans it interacts with.
If the dog has puppies, you are also putting them at risk as well. This is because worms can be spread from a female dog to its litter through its milk. It’s therefore not surprising that quarantining any dog with worms is necessary. However, this isn’t the only preventative measure you have at your disposal.
For instance, you can reduce your dog’s exposure to potentially contaminated surfaces and areas. This can include crowded public parks, playgrounds, and even dog parks. Another thing you can do is ensure that you regularly remove your dog’s feces from your backyard – at least 2 to 3 times per week. Also, remember to get your dog a fecal examination at least 2 to 4 times a year, depending on lifestyle habits and geographical location.
Can I Touch My Puppy if They Have Worms?
If your puppy has worms, you should avoid touching them and wash your hands after any accidental/unavoidable contact. This is because you can easily get in contact with worm eggs this way and end up ingesting them and being their next host. You can even end up passing them along to your other pets. This is particularly common when touching a puppy who just pooped.
That’s why it’s advisable to even be careful when handling the poop of a dog who has worms. Don’t touch it directly – use a high-quality poop bag instead. And wash our hands immediately after the disposal. Remember, a lot of worms that affect dogs can make humans sick as well.
These include roundworms and tapeworms. The interesting thing is that tapeworms can even be spread by accidentally ingesting an infected dog’s fleas. That’s why it isn’t advisable to sleep in the same bed with a dog who has these worms – let it sleep in its crate instead. Ultimately, the best way to protect yourself and all other members of your household is to avoid all contact with a dog that has worms.
Do Worms Crawl out Of Dogs at Night?
No, worms don’t crawl out of dogs at night. Instead, they tend to shed segments of themselves, particularly those that carry eggs. As such, it’s common to notice that an infected dog’s poop has some particles that twitch. Dogs with tapeworms particularly have white particles that look like rice or cucumber seeds in their feces.
These particles are usually around 12mm long and are scientifically known as proglottids. Apart from in feces, they can also be found on the anus hairs of some infected dogs. Whatever the case, though, they usually dry out and become golden before rapturing and releasing eggs into the environment. On average, a single proglottid can contain up to 20 tapeworm eggs.
That’s why it’s important to carefully dispose of an infected dog’s feces. Even the fleas around it can eat the eggs and end up in your mouth. Rest assured that you’ll never see a whole worm in your dog’s feces or crawling out of its anus, though. These parasites can be as long as 30cm and usually do their best to secure themselves to your dog’s intestines.
What Are the Chances of Getting Worms from Your Dog?
While there’s a risk that you can get worms from your dog, it’s low. In fact, even dog vets don’t have a high enough chance to warrant regular deworming. Ultimately, as long as you always wash your hands after handling an infected dog, you should be fine. If you’re not sure whether your dog has worms or not, you can take them to the vet’s office for a stool test.
However, a negative test doesn’t mean you should stop regularly deworming your dog. On the contrary, it is an indication that what you’re doing is working and that you should stick with it. If this still doesn’t make you feel safe, though, you can take things a step further and avoid sleeping in the same bed as your dog, especially if they have fleas. Instead, you can get them a crate that they can sleep in.
Also, you can put a plan in place for when you suspect your dog has a worm infestation. For instance, you can choose to immediately quarantine any dog that shows signs of illness until the vet tells you it’s safe. This will help prevent the unexpected spread and give you general peace of mind.
Can Worms Live on My Carpet, Bed, Couch, Etc?
Yes, worms can live on your carpet, bed, couch, and other pieces of furniture. In fact, if your dog drags worms from the outdoors onto your living room carpet, and then you stand or even sit on it, you could end up infected. However, how long a worm will survive in your carpet and furniture depends on its species – some will live long while others will die quickly. Interestingly, even worm eggs can survive in carpets for a long time.
In fact, they are more likely to survive on your carpet than adult worms. And once they are there, they can lay dormant for a long time and wait until they get a host to hatch. However, worms and their eggs can’t live as long in carpets and furniture as they would in soil. Ultimately, the soil is where they thrive best and even spread faster.
So if you realize that the soil where your dog likes to play is infested with worms, you need to quickly find another spot for them. Even if you clean your dog immediately after their playtime, there’s always a chance that they’ll drag in some worms when you’re not looking. This can lead to a full-on infestation.
How Do I Clean My House if My Dog Has Worms?
If your dog has worms or you suspect that they have been exposed to them, you’ll need to thoroughly clean your house. To start, you’ll need to create a solution with bleach to water ratio of 1:30 and use it to wipe any solid surfaces that your dog has touched. These include food/water bowls, countertops, and even floors. Once you’re done, you can clean the carpets, cushions, dog beddings, and toys.
To clean the carpets, you’ll have to first vacuum them and then steam clean them. While the former process will get rid of any worms, the latter will get rid of any eggs. Just remember to empty the contents of your vacuum cleaner immediately when you’re done. Also, ensure that you use warm water and detergent to wash the beddings, toys, and cushions.
If your cushions and other fabric surfaces can’t be washed, you can steam clean them. You can even steam clean your curtains too.
Also, don’t forget to bathe your dog and treat them of any fleas. These bugs can spread worms to and from your dog, especially tapeworms. If you don’t get rid of them, you may find yourself moving from one infestation to the next.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, you should quarantine your dog with worms – they have no business freely interacting with you or other dogs. They can easily spread their worms to everyone else in the household, especially vulnerable parties like children, pregnant women, puppies, and nursing dogs. So immediately you discover your dog has worms, quarantine it, start treating it, and clean your home. While it may seem like overkill, this is the only way to take care of the dog while keeping everyone else safe.
