They are one of the few parasites that may be seen in a bowel movement or clinging to the hair near your pet's tail. If you notice these segments, carefully place them in a small container and take them to your veterinarian for positive identification along with a fecal sample. Several types of worms may be involved, and it is important to identify all of them for proper treatment. Once identification is made, the proper deworming medication must be administered. With some intestinal worms, treatment of the environment also may be needed.
Most treatments take only a few days.
However, periodic checking is necessary to be sure that all intestinal worms have been eliminated. A fecal sample should be reexamined about three to four weeks after the deworming. Your veterinarian may request an additional fecal sample at a later date. Once the problem is treated, it makes sense to prevent reinfection. Bowel movements are the greatest source of most worms.