Diarrhea? Unusual weight loss? Scooting on the butt? These might be signs that your pet has an uninvited “friend” tagging along. Let’s learn together what these worms are and how to get rid of them.
Understanding Common Worms in Pets
First of all, what are these worms? Worms are parasites, meaning organisms living in or on a living host at the expense of this living being. More precisely, intestinal worms are parasites that live within a pet's digestive tract, where they survive by absorbing nutrients intended for the host animal.
There are three common types of worms:
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Tapeworms
These worms enter the digestive system through ingestion of contaminated food or soil, transmitted through fleas, or through contact with other infected animals.
But why exactly do we need to evict these uninvited “guests”?
Why You Should Deworm Your Pet
Worms are parasites living at the expense of your pet. Although often hidden from view, worms can affect digestion, nutrient absorption, growth, and overall health. This is because these worms live inside an animal’s digestive system, where they compete directly for nutrients. This means that even if your pet is eating normally:
- Reduced Nutrient Absorption
Worms absorb a portion of the food your pet consumes, reducing the amount of nutrients your pet actually receives. As a result, pets may receive fewer nutrients despite maintaining a normal appetite, which can lead to deficiencies.
- Digestion is disrupted
These parasites irritate your pet’s intestinal lining. This irritation can contribute to inflammation, digestive discomfort, and less efficient nutrient absorption.
- Overall health is weakened
As nutrients are diverted and digestion becomes less efficient, your pet’s body has fewer resources to maintain energy levels, support immune function, sustain normal growth and repair.
These make up as to why your pet becomes undernourished due to the hidden effects of worms. But these worms pose long-term risks should they not be treated. Worm infestations can lead to more noticeable and sometimes serious health issues:
- Stunted growth→ more prevalent in younger pets
- Weight loss
- Digestive issues
But how do we know if your fuzzy companion is infected?
Signs Your Pet May Have Worms
There are several signs that can clue a pet owner if their pet is affected by worms. Owners should note however, that these signs can be gradual, subtle and can be mistaken for another sickness entirely. You should observe if multiple of these signs occur, or if there are any repeating patterns. There are three main signals to look for:
- Digestive signs
Worms inhabit the digestive tract of your pet, meaning that the digestive system is the first function that is affected. But while often the first sign, they are also the easiest to dismiss as minor or temporary issues.
Pets infected with worms often:
- Diarrhea is one of the most common signs, as parasites can irritate the intestinal tract and disrupt normal digestion.
- Vomit
Worms sometimes can be visible in these excretions, however it is not always the case.
- Physical changes
Because worms “steal” nutrition from your animal, this can lead to several physical changes tied to nutrition deficiency.
These changes come in the form as:
- Unexplained weight loss, even if your pet is eating normally they may lose weight because nutrients are absorbed by the parasites and not the animal.
- Dull coat or poor body condition. Nutrition is an important factor in a healthy coat. A lack of nutrition leads to dry, rough fur and increased shedding, overall contributing to your companion’s “unhealthy” appearance.
- Bloated bellies (more common in kittens and puppies), primarily because of heavier parasite burdens.
Physical changes often reflect long-term impact, not early-stage infection. The symptoms mentioned here typically are gradual, thus are harder to notice.
- Behavioral signs
Behavioral signs are subtle but can also reveal worm issues in pets. Common behaviors in animals infected with worms include:
- Changes in appetite, your pet may eat more due to a lack of nutrition, or eat less due to discomfort.
- Restlessness or discomfort, discomfort caused by parasites may result in restlessness or difficulty settling comfortably.
- Butt scooting or excessive licking, worm infestations can make your pets drag their rear along the ground or lick excessively due to irritation caused by certain parasites.
No single symptom confirms worms but a combination of digestive, physical, and behavioral changes should raise concern. These small signs, when observed together, can help you identify a problem early and take action before it becomes more serious.
Once we have identified that our pet has worms, what actions do we take to get rid of them?
How to Get Rid of Worms
Deworming is a straightforward process, but it must be done correctly and consistently to be effective. Because different types of worms require different treatments, the approach should always be informed and targeted, rather than guesswork. Pet owners should avoid self diagnosing. While symptoms may be similar, the treatment for each worm differs. Self-diagnosing can lead to ineffective or incorrect treatment, delaying proper care.
You should instead rely on veterinarians as they can:
- Identify the type of worm (if symptoms are present)
- Recommend the appropriate medication
- Determine the correct dosage based on:
- Weight
- Age
- Overall health
They may also suggest:
- A deworming schedule
- Follow-up treatments if needed
Only then is it advised to administer the antiparasitical medicine to your pet. These come in the forms of:
- Oral tablets, which are often given directly or mixed with food
- Liquid suspensions, which are especially useful for cats, puppies or smaller pets
- Topical or vet-prescribed treatments, in some cases, treatments may be applied externally but absorbed into the body
These medicines work by targeting the parasite’s biological system, breaking its life cycle, allowing your pet’s body to eliminate it naturally.
While these help get rid of worms, pets can further support the lives of their pets by reducing the risks of another worm infestation. This means:
- Maintain hygiene, clean living areas, proper waste disposal
- Control fleas
- Avoid contaminated environments
- Regular vet checks
These make sure that those pesky worms are properly gone. Owners need to treat their pets less if these issues are prevented. However, even though your pet is treated, if the infestation was left undiagnosed for a long time, your pet still needs time to recover. It is important then during this period to support your baby, by providing complete nutrition.
Recovery and Nutrition
Because worms deprive your pets of nutrition, this greatly affects their overall daily health. After all, deworming medicine can not cure the effects of malnutrition. This is why, during their recovery period, you should provide complete and nutritious meals. These help your pets through:
- Rebuilding strength
- Restoring energy
- Developing healthier fur
- Supporting digestion
- Improving overall health
Recovery is the most crucial stage when dealing with worm infestations. After losing valuable nutrients, your pets need time and support that a balanced nutrition helps provide. Complete nutrition can become part of the process, helping to rebuild overall well-being.
This is why thoughtfully formulated diets, such as those developed by KEOS, can support this stage by providing reliable, digestible nutrition that works alongside proper care. Not as a replacement for treatment, but as part of a steady routine that helps your pet recover and stay well over time.
Pet owners are guaranteed their pets are supported through our simply good kibbles.
