If the dog becomes pregnant, the worms can migrate to the lungs of the developing puppies as well as into the mother s milk. Hookworms actually attach themselves to the dog s intestinal wall. When untreated, they can cause intestinal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, anemia and even death. Whipworms are often the hardest to cure in dogs because of the prolific nature of the female worm. One female can produce in excess of 2,000 eggs a day, these eggs are passed in the dog s feces and can survive in the soil for years regardless of the cold or heat of a given region.
Tapeworms occur when a dog bites and swallows fleas.
They are made up of many flat segments that resemble moving grains of rice. They are the most common worms seen by the owner when cleaning up the feces of their dog. They are the most serious and deadly parasite to attack an adult dog. These worms are carried by mosquitoes and transmitted when the dog is bitten. Lodging in the heart, the worms restrict blood flow and cause damage to other internal organs.