How to Tell If Your Pet Has Worms 2025: Signs, Treatment & Prevention 🐶🐱✨

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Worms are more common than most pet parents realize—and they’re not always obvious. Left untreated, intestinal parasites can cause serious health problems in dogs and cats, especially puppies and kittens.

I’m Dr. Duncan Houston, veterinarian and founder of Ask A Vet. Here's how to tell if your pet has worms, how to treat them, and how to keep them from coming back.

🪱 Common Types of Worms in Pets

1. Roundworms

• Spaghetti-like worms visible in vomit or poop
• Very common in puppies and kittens

2. Tapeworms

• Flat, segmented worms
• Look like rice grains near your pet’s anus or in bedding

3. Hookworms

• Tiny, blood-sucking worms
• Cause anemia and diarrhea—often invisible in stool

4. Whipworms (dogs only)

• Cause bloody diarrhea and weight loss
• Hard to detect—require specialized fecal tests

5. Coccidia & Giardia (not worms but protozoa)

• Cause soft stools or diarrhea
• Can affect young or immunocompromised pets

🔍 Signs Your Pet May Have Worms

• Visible worms or “rice grains” in stool or around the anus
• Diarrhea or soft stool
• Weight loss despite normal appetite
• Pot-bellied appearance (especially in puppies/kittens)
• Anal scooting or excessive licking
• Vomiting or coughing (in some cases)

🧪 How Vets Diagnose Worms

• Fecal flotation test (microscopic exam of stool)
• Fecal PCR panels for advanced parasite detection
• Visual inspection (for tapeworms or roundworms)

💊 How Worms Are Treated

• Prescription dewormers (e.g., Drontal, Milbemax, Panacur, Advocate)
• Multiple doses may be needed for certain worms
• Follow-up fecal testing to ensure eradication

🧼 Home & Environmental Tips

• Pick up poop daily to prevent reinfection
• Wash pet bedding regularly
• Prevent pets from eating rodents, slugs, or wild feces

🛡️ Preventing Worms in the First Place

• Deworm puppies and kittens every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old
• Use monthly parasite prevention (Advocate, NexGard Spectra, Revolution)
• Fecal exams every 6–12 months for adult pets

👨👩 Can Humans Get Worms from Pets?

• Yes—especially roundworms, hookworms, and Giardia
• Always wash your hands after handling pets or cleaning up poop
• Keep kids away from sandboxes or areas where dogs/cats go toilet

🔗 Tools from Ask A Vet

• Ask A Vet – Log deworming, upload stool photos, and get vet guidance on prevention

📋 Summary Excerpt

Worms in pets are more common than you think. A vet explains the signs, treatments, and how to protect your dog or cat—and your family—against parasites.

❓ FAQs

• Q: Can indoor cats get worms?
  A: Yes—through fleas, contaminated food, or tracked-in dirt. All pets should be dewormed and protected regularly.
• Q: Is it safe to use over-the-counter dewormers?
  A: Many are outdated or ineffective. Always use a vet-recommended product.
• Q: How often should I deworm my pet?
  A: Puppies/kittens: every 2 weeks. Adults: every 1–3 months depending on risk. Your vet can guide a custom schedule.