6 ways your dog could pick up worms (without you even noticing)

Your dog can pick up worms in more ways than you might think. It could happen while sniffing around the park, swallowing an infected flea, scavenging something they shouldn't, eating raw food, or exploring somewhere new.

The good news is that understanding how worms are picked up can help you recognise where your dog may be exposed and make more informed decisions about their parasite protection.

1. Contaminated soil, grass and environments

Some intestinal worms, like roundworms and hookworms, spread when dogs swallow infective eggs or larvae from contaminated environments. A dog can encounter these stages while sniffing, licking or eating material from the ground.

Dogs can also be exposed to dog hookworm larvae in contaminated soil or sand and to dog roundworm eggs through contaminated soil, unwashed raw vegetables or animal faeces.1

Want to know more about the diseases people can catch from pets? See Zoonoses: What You Can Catch From Your Dog or Cat in Australia? for a closer look at how people can be exposed and how to reduce the risk.

2. Hunting, scavenging and wildlife

Hunting and scavenging can increase parasite exposure because wildlife and livestock can act as intermediate hosts for some parasites. In Australia, sheep, kangaroos and wallabies are relevant to the hydatid tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) lifecycle.²

This can matter for dogs that hunt, scavenge, roam off lead, explore bush- or farmland, camp or bushwalk. Urban and suburban dogs can encounter these exposures too, particularly when travelling or exploring new environments.

Want to understand more about hydatid tapeworm, how dogs become infected and what it can mean for people? See our article Tapeworms in Dogs: Signs, Treatment and Prevention.

3. Fleas and grooming

Fleas are more than an itchy nuisance. Dogs can acquire flea tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) when they swallow an infected flea, usually when grooming.

Flea control can therefore reduce flea tapeworm exposure, although killing fleas is not the same as directly treating an existing tapeworm infection.

4. Eating raw meat or offal

Some parasites can be acquired when dogs eat infected animal tissue. Raw offal is particularly important in Australia because it can maintain the hydatid tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) lifecycle. It is recommended that dogs have restricted access to untreated raw offal from infected livestock or wildlife.²

If you feed a raw diet, speak with your veterinarian about the potential parasite risks associated with the ingredients and preparation method.

5. From mother to puppy

Puppies have their own parasite risks. Roundworm infections can be passed from a mother to her puppies before birth, and puppies can acquire roundworms and hookworms during nursing, when the mother is infected.3

Find out more about when puppies should be wormed: How Often Should I Worm My Puppy?

6. Travel, bush walks and changes in lifestyle

Your dog's parasite exposure can change when their lifestyle changes. A suburban dog may have a different exposure profile after a camping trip, bushwalk, rural holiday, farm visit or period of increased off-lead exploration. 

So don't just think about where your dog lives - think about what they get up to, particularly when their routine changes.

What does this mean for your dog's parasite protection?

There is no single approach to parasite protection that is right for every dog. The parasites your dog could encounter depend on factors such as age, lifestyle, location, diet and exposure. Talk to your veterinarian about parasite protection that is appropriate for your dog.

What else can I do to reduce my dog's and family's worm exposure?

Frequently Asked Questions