To prevent worms from food, avoid feeding raw meat (which can carry tapeworms/roundworms), manage fleas (major tapeworm source), maintain excellent hygiene by promptly cleaning feces, use vet-prescribed monthly preventatives for broad protection (including heartworm/intestinal worms), and consult your vet about diet adjustments like adding pumpkin seeds (cucurbitacin) or carrots for general gut health, as contamination often comes from environment/fleas, not just commercial food.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can increase the alkaline levels in the dog's intestines, making it inhospitable for parasites and worms. Add 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of raw organic apple cider vinegar to your dog's water bowl daily. This may also improve coat condition and provide other health benefits (3).
Prevention is always better than cure, so follow these tips to reduce the risk of your pet catching worms. Disinfect food and water bowls regularly. Ensure housing is regularly cleaned and disinfected, but only use a disinfectant that's safe for animals.
Contaminated food is not the most common way for worms to be transferred to humans, dogs, or cats. Contaminated environments are more likely culprits; keeping your home clean and washing hands, or paws, frequently will minimize the most common form of transmission, from worms eggs on contaminated surfaces.
Veterinarian-prescribed deworming medications are what kills worms in dogs most effectively during emergencies. These medications work by either paralyzing or starving the parasites, often beginning to work within hours of administration.
Dog owners can begin to suspect a worm infestation if they see their dogs scooting their hindquarters along the ground or on the carpet, if the dog vomits or has diarrhea frequently or if they begin to lose weight in spite of normal appetite.
Natural Remedies for Dog Deworming:
As a pet parent, you always want to cuddle your furry companion, but it may not be the safest thing to do if it has tapeworms. While internal parasites have to pass from feces to mouth to infect humans, the risk of transmission through fleas is always there.
The AVMA recognizes public interest in feeding raw diets to dogs and cats. However, the AVMA discourages feeding any raw or undercooked animal-sourced protein (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, egg, milk*) to dogs and cats because of their risk to human and animal health.
If you see worms in your dog food, it's most likely not worms but larvae of the Indian meal moth. These moths and their larvae feed on dry food, including dry dog food. The larvae will often leave telltale signs such as silk webbings around infested food sources.
The short answer is yes, many worms infesting dogs are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans.
That said, seeing worms after a deworming can also mean your puppy is reinfested. The dewormer can only kill adult worms, so after a while, eggs and larvae that were present will have developed into adults. But this just means your puppy needs another dose.
For those seeking a more holistic approach to deworming, there are several natural remedies that can help eliminate worms in dogs. One popular option is the use of pumpkin seeds. These seeds contain a compound called cucurbitacin that can paralyze worms, making it easier for your dog's system to expel them.
What to Do if You Suspect Your Dog Has Worms
Products for dogs - non-prescription medication, tapeworms
When raw feeding dogs, we would also recommend more regular worming than dogs on cooked complete diets because they are at a higher risk of contracting tapeworm. We would suggest monthly worming for roundworm and 3 monthly worming for tapeworm (as opposed to 6 monthly tapeworm treatment for dogs on a cooked diet).
Three toxic types of meat for dogs include fatty, processed meats (like bacon, sausage, ham) due to salt/fat causing pancreatitis and sodium issues; seasoned meats with onions/garlic (allium) that damage red blood cells; and cooked bones, which splinter and cause internal damage or blockages, potentially requiring surgery. Raw meats can also carry harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli.
The worst dog foods often contain cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy; unspecified "meat meals" or by-products; excessive sugar; and artificial colors/preservatives, with brands like Kibbles 'n Bits, Beneful, Gravy Train, and some Purina/Iams varieties frequently cited for low nutritional quality and questionable ingredients. Focus on avoiding poor-quality protein sources (unspecified meat meals), fillers, artificial additives, and dangerous human foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol.
There's no single "number 1" healthiest dog food, as the best choice depends on your dog's age, breed, and health; however, look for foods meeting AAFCO standards (Association of American Feed Control Officials), with real meat as the first ingredient, and vet-recommended brands like Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin are often cited for balanced nutrition. Freshly prepared or raw diets can also be healthy but carry risks, so always consult your vet.
Worm infestations are a common issue for puppies, but regular deworming treatments ensure your pet stays healthy and happy. While your puppy may poop worms for up to two weeks after treatment, this is a natural part of the process.
Can I get worms from my dog sleeping in my bed? Direct contact with the dog usually does not result in humans getting infected. However, good hygiene practices and regular deworming of your dog is encouraged.
If you've been out hiking, walking or in any environments where there are dogs and other wildlife, clean your dog's paws afterwards. This can be done with grooming wipes or wet wash cloth. Worms can be passed between dogs and cats by sharing drinking water and toys.
Signs and symptoms of parasites in dogs include:
An insect lays eggs, the eggs hatch, and little worms start crawling all over the kibble. Other insects like cockroaches can be attracted to dog food in the adult stage. Cockroaches will usually infest dog food after you bring it home, as they scavenge and seek easy meals.
Vegetables such as grated carrots make your dog's intestine less hospitable to worms. Dogs cannot easily digest carrots and because of this, the undigested form of the carrot travels through the intestines, potentially bringing some worms along with them.