What are Roundworms in Pets?

Parasites in your pet are never a pleasant topic. After all, who really wants to hear that there are worms living inside their dog or cat's digestive tract? Nevertheless, your pet may be at higher risk of parasitic infestations (sometimes called "infections") than you think. Understanding and preventing roundworm in pets is particularly important due to how common they are, as well as the fact that routine parasite prevention medications don't protect against them.

Here's what all dog and cat parents need to know!

Prevalence of roundworm in dogs and cats

Of all the different types of parasitic worms found inside dogs and cats, roundworm is the most common. There are more infestations of this type recorded every year than any other parasite affecting our pets.

"Almost every dog will be infected with roundworms at some point in their life," says veterinarian Dr. Caroline Wilde, DVM. "Often puppies are born with them, passed on from their mother."

At up to 12 cm long and often found in large numbers, roundworms can cause your pet discomfort. While roundworms are more common in dogs, there are three main types of roundworms that can affect both dogs and cats:

• Toxocara canis, which use dogs as a host
• Toxocara cati, which are found in cats
• Toxascaris leonina, which affects both animals

While the life cycles and genealogies vary, all three variants of this parasite survive by living on your pet’s sustenance and can cause risks to long-term health.

3 quick things to know about roundworms

• Roundworms are extremely common in young animals. Most dogs will be infected at some point in their early lives.
• Roundworms can also infect humans, another reason to visit the veterinarian if your pet shows symptoms.
• Different symptoms of roundworms in pets can indicate different stages of the worms’ life cycle. The parasites begin in the intestines, causing diarrhea and vomiting, but later move to the lungs and cause the dog to cough.

What do roundworms look like?

Roundworms can be 10-12cm in length and are usually white/cream or brown in color. They look like cooked spaghetti. They are generally thin and smooth-skinned, compared to tapeworms which are thicker and have bumps or ridges on their surface. This is because the tapeworm is made up of individual segments, while the roundworm is one, continuous body. On average, roundworms are also considerably longer than tapeworms.

How can my pet become infected?

A domestic animal can be infected with roundworms in a variety of ways. Puppies and kittens are especially susceptible to infection, especially because an infected mother will often pass roundworms to her infants prior to birth through umbilical feeding, or shortly after birth via her milk.

Roundworms — and other similar parasites — are one reason puppies are commonly de-wormed by a veterinarian soon after birth. However, roundworms pose a risk to adult pets, too. A fully-grown dog or cat can pick up the parasites by eating infected food or water or feces found in soil, thereby ingesting roundworm eggs too small to see.

Infection timeline

1. Pet inhales or consumes live roundworms or roundworm eggs, from food, milk, vegetation or soil.

2. If eggs were consumed, they hatch during the host’s digestion process, releasing the larvae.

3. If the animal is a suitable host, the larvae migrate to the lungs. From here, it may be coughed up.

Roundworm infection signs in dogs and cats

Roundworms in pets produce a variety of symptoms. One of the most common is abdominal swelling, so be on the lookout for your pet’s stomach area appearing larger than normal. If you notice a change, gently feel the area with your hand to see if it seems bloated or firmer than normal.

Other symptoms may include lethargy, vomiting, abnormalities in the feces, or weight loss caused by the parasites feeding on your pet’s food intake. The animal is likely to be weaker than normal, too, expressing signs of fatigue. If you notice a combination of these symptoms in your pet, take them to the veterinarian for an exam.

Roundworms might also be spotted in a dog’s feces or vomit. The roundworm is long and smooth-coated and will appear as light strands.

Unlike many other conditions, the symptoms of roundworms may indicate the stage of infection. Roundworms start in the intestines and digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhea and stomach inflammation. However, as roundworms develop into their adult stage, they move to the lungs and respiratory system. Your pet may cough and show signs of breathing interference. Spotting these symptoms can help diagnose how far along the infection is.

Are roundworm infestations in pets dangerous?

The short answer? It depends.

"In adult pets, roundworms tend to pose little threat to the animal’s health," Wilde says. "This is especially true when infestations are caught early."

Meanwhile, Wilde says an adult pet will likely suffer the symptoms of infestation (primarily vomiting, swelling and weakness), but should return to their usual self once treated.

However, in young dogs and cats, roundworms can present more severe, long-term damage risks. Roundworms thrive by feeding on the sustenance consumed by their host, draining large portions of their food intake and not leaving enough for the hungry pet to remain healthy. 

Over time, if untreated, this greedy snatching of all the good stuff in your pet’s food can lead to malnutrition, which in turn can impact growth and development. According to Wilde, a young pet with untreated roundworm could grow up frailer and weaker, which could put them at risk of a number of other health conditions. For this reason, it is crucial to take your pet to the veterinarian for an exam immediately if you notice roundworm symptoms. Never assume that your pet will be able to fight off parasitic infestations naturally or that it's not a big deal.

Getting rid of roundworms

Treating roundworms in pets is a simple, painless procedure. Your veterinarian will give your pet a single oral dose of de-worming treatment to remove the pests.

You may be asked to take samples of their stool at weekly intervals after treatment to ensure that the problem has been cleared. Your veterinarian may also recommend a heartworm de-wormer, which often also tackles and prevents roundworms.

Home de-worming treatments are also available over the counter, though their reliability and effectiveness vary. To be sure of a healthy pup or kitten, and to minimize the risk of roundworms in pets reoccurring, seek the help of a veterinarian.

5 tips for preventing roundworm in dogs and cats

There are several easy steps owners can take to minimize the chances of picking up parasites. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your pet roundworm-free:

1. De-worm in early life — Get rid of roundworms passed on from your pet’s mother by arranging de-worming treatment fortnightly until the age of 8 or 10 weeks.
   
2. Stay on top of hygiene — Keep your pet’s living areas clean, removing and disposing of any feces in a sanitary way to prevent transmission.
3. Discourage rear sniffing — Yes, they love to do it, but sniffing around behind a fellow canine or feline could cause your pet to inhale dangerous roundworm larvae. Take caution, especially around pets you don't know.
4. Stop poop eating — Puppies in particular may have a tendency to try to eat poop they find, whether it's their own or that of another dog. Always monitor pets closely outdoors, clean up after them quickly, and stop consumption of anything that's not a snack you've given them yourself.
5. No "wild" meals — Take measures to discourage your pet from catching and eating wild animals (especially if you have an outdoor cat!). Small rodents in particular are often carriers for roundworm.

Does pet insurance cover roundworm?

This article is intended as an informative guide for pet owners, but is not a replacement for veterinary care. Always talk with your veterinarian about practicing parasite prevention (for everything — not just roundworm), and ask about your pet's particular risks.

If you believe your pet may be infected with roundworms, seek professional advice from a veterinarian. In the meantime, protect your dog or cat with a good pet insurance plan. While parasitic infestations like roundworm will not be covered under many providers, due to prevention being key, pet insurance can still help lessen the worry about your pet's health needs overall.