Intestinal Worms and Parasites in Bulldogs

Most owners go hunting through the stool for something wriggling, find nothing, and feel reassured. That is the wrong test. Almost everything that matters here is microscopic.

In a puppy this is not housekeeping. A heavy worm burden quietly takes blood and nutrients from a dog who has none spare, and the first outward sign can be a puppy who simply is not thriving.

The good news is that this is one of the cheap, routine, solvable ones. It just has to run on a schedule rather than on whether you have noticed anything.

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A question for Dr. Kraemer

An example of a question a Bulldog owner might ask

Our Bulldog had a stool test at his annual check and it came back clear, so we stopped the monthly preventive to save a bit of money. Six weeks later he had diarrhea and the second test found hookworms. I feel stupid, because the first test said he was fine. Was that test wrong, or did he pick them up in between?

Dr. Kraemer’s reply

Neither, probably, and you are not stupid. You did a reasonable thing based on a result that looked like permission. The trouble is that a clear stool test does not mean what most owners quite understandably take it to mean.

A stool test looks for eggs. Parasites shed eggs at certain points rather than constantly, so not every sample from an infected dog contains any, which is why your veterinarian may ask for more than one sample or want it repeated. A clear result tells you that nothing was found in that sample on that day. It is not a certificate, and it is not a reason to stop prevention.

There is a second reason that matters more in a yard. Several of these parasites persist in soil, sometimes for a long time. Stopping prevention does not only leave him open to new contact, it leaves him open to ground he has already used himself. That is why the monthly product is prevention rather than treatment, and why stopping it is usually false economy.

He is being treated and that part is straightforward. What I would raise with your veterinarian is whether anyone in the household needs advice as well, because some of these can affect people and the answer depends on which parasite and who is in the house. Ask the question at the appointment rather than looking it up tonight.

Then put him back on prevention and leave him on it. Tie the dose to something that already happens every month so it does not depend on anybody remembering.

Dr. Roy Kraemer, DVM

When to Call Your Veterinarian

Call promptly for diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss or poor puppy growth. Pale gums, collapse, severe weakness or significant blood loss need emergency care. Hookworms can cause dangerous anemia, especially in puppies. Do not wait to see a worm before seeking help.

Intestinal parasites, including worms and protozoa, are notably more prevalent in bulldogs and French bulldog puppies than in mature adults.

Other bulldogs who are vulnerable to endoparasites are:

• Bulldogs with a weakened or suppressed immune system
• bulldogs living in multi-pet households
• daycare and kennel bulldog sharing common ground
• bulldogs living on farms
• bulldogs exposed to environments infested with fleas (tapeworms)
• Bulldogs who drink from standing water that other animals defecate into

Common Intestinal Worms and Protozoa

There are many types of intestinal parasites, among them are four common worms and two common protozoa listed below

WORMS:

1. BULLDOG ROUNDWORMS (Toxocara)

• Description: Roundworms are large, spaghetti-like worms that can be seen in the stool or vomit of infected dogs. They are particularly common in puppies.
• Transmission: Puppies can acquire Toxocara roundworms before birth or through their mother’s milk. Dogs can also swallow infective eggs from contaminated environments or acquire infection through prey.
• Prevention:
  • Ask your veterinarian about a parasite-control plan before breeding and during pregnancy. The medicine and timing must be appropriate for the mother and puppies.
  • Regular deworming
  • environmental cleanliness

2. BULLDOG TAPEWORMS:

• Description: Tapeworm segments resemble small, white grains of rice and may be found around the dog’s anus or in their feces. Tapeworm infection is commonly associated with flea infestations.
• Transmission: The common flea tapeworm, Dipylidium, is acquired by swallowing an infected flea. Other tapeworm species can be acquired through prey or raw animal tissues.
• Prevention:
  • Effective flea control is essential in preventing tapeworm infections
  • Regular deworming

3. BULLDOG HOOKWORMS (Ancylostoma)

• Description: Hookworms are small, thin worms that attach to the lining of the intestinal wall, feeding on the dog’s blood. They can cause anemia, especially in puppies.
• Transmission: Dogs can acquire hookworms by swallowing larvae or through penetration of the skin. Some species can also pass to puppies through the mother’s milk.
• Prevention:
  • Regular deworming
  • maintaining clean environments
  • preventing contact with contaminated soil

4. BULLDOG WHIPWORM (Trichuris)

• Description: Whipworms are named for their whip-like shape, with a thin front end and a thicker rear end. They reside in the cecum and colon of dogs, where they can cause irritation and discomfort.
• Transmission: Infection occurs when dogs ingest whipworm eggs from the environment, often through contaminated soil.
• Prevention:
  • Regular deworming
  • preventing ingestion of soil or feces from contaminated environments

Protozoa: Tiny Parasites You Cannot See in the Stool

1. BULLDOG GIARDIA:

• Description: Giardia is a protozoan parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illness in bulldogs, including diarrhea.
• Transmission: Giardia is typically transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated water or feces. It can also be spread through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
• Prevention:
  • Providing clean water sources
  • avoiding contact with contaminated environments
  • practicing good hygiene, such as regularly cleaning water bowls and living areas

2. BULLDOG COCCIDIA:

• Description: Coccidia is another protozoan parasite that can cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs.
• Transmission: Dogs can become infected with coccidia by ingesting contaminated feces or soil. It can also be spread through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
• Prevention: Maintaining good hygiene practices, such as regularly cleaning living areas and removing feces, may help minimize exposure to coccidia. Providing clean water sources and avoiding overcrowded living conditions may also help prevent infections.

Other Conditions That Can Look Like Parasites

Here are some common conditions with clinical symptoms similar to the ones manifested by our list of parasites that should be ruled out:

1. Bulldog and French Bulldog Viral Infections (e.g., Parvovirus):

Viral infections, such as parvovirus, can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms in dogs.

A specific test for parvovirus may be performed to rule out this viral infection.

2. Intestinal bacterial infections (e.g., E. coli and Salmonella):

Bacterial infections can lead to gastrointestinal issues and may require specific testing, such as fecal culture or PCR testing, to identify the presence of pathogenic bacteria like E. coli or Salmonella.

3. Bulldog Food Allergy or Food Intolerance:

Food allergies or intolerances can lead to gastrointestinal upsets, including diarrhea and vomiting. Elimination diets or food trials may be used to identify potential food allergens or intolerances.

4. Bulldog Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):

IBD is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that can cause symptoms such as chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and vomiting. Diagnosis may involve blood tests, fecal testing, imaging studies, and sometimes intestinal biopsies.

5. Bulldog and French Bulldog Gastroenteritis:

Gastroenteritis refers to inflammation of the stomach and intestines, often resulting from infections, dietary indiscretion, or other factors. Diagnostic tests may include blood work, fecal testing, and imaging studies to rule out other underlying causes.

Can Dog Parasites Affect People?

Warning: Bulldog intestinal worms pose a potential threat to human health. Vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and individuals with weakened immune systems, are particularly at risk. Transmission of zoonotic parasites typically occurs through contact with contaminated pet feces, leading to ingestion and potential infection in humans.

HUMAN-PET PARASITE PREVENTION:

To mitigate the risk of zoonotic parasite transmission and protect both pets and humans, comprehensive care and prevention measures should be implemented on multiple levels:

• Regular Veterinary Checkups: Ensure bulldogs receive routine veterinary care, including fecal examinations and deworming treatments.
• Hygiene Practices: Practice good hygiene habits, such as frequent handwashing with soap and water, especially after handling pets, cleaning up pet waste, or participating in outdoor activities where exposure to contaminated soil may occur.
• Proper Waste Disposal: Dispose of pet feces promptly and appropriately, following local regulations and guidelines. Use disposable gloves or implements to handle waste, and avoid direct contact with feces.
• Environmental Cleaning: Pick up stools promptly and clean bowls and bedding. Many parasite eggs resist routine disinfectants, so ask your veterinarian about parasite-specific cleaning; do not assume a disinfectant makes soil or grass safe.
• Education and Awareness: Educate household members, particularly children, about the importance of pet hygiene and parasite prevention. Teach them to avoid behaviors that increase the risk of exposure to pet feces, such as putting hands or objects in their mouths after handling pets.
• Flea Control: Implement effective flea control measures to reduce the risk of tapeworm transmission, as fleas serve as intermediate hosts for certain tapeworm species. Use veterinarian-recommended flea preventatives and regularly inspect pets for signs of flea infestation.
• Regular De-worming: Follow a veterinarian-recommended deworming schedule for bulldogs and other pets to prevent and control intestinal parasite infections. Deworming medications prescribed by a veterinarian are effective in eliminating intestinal parasites and reducing the risk of transmission to humans.

Bulldog intestinal worms pose a potential threat to human health

Signs of Intestinal Parasites

1. Weight Loss: Intestinal parasites can deprive dogs of essential nutrients, leading to weight loss despite a normal or increased appetite. In puppies, this may manifest as a failure to thrive or grow at a healthy rate.
2. Pot Belly: Puppies with heavy worm infestations may develop a distended abdomen, often referred to as a “pot belly.” This occurs due to the accumulation of worms in the intestinal tract, causing bloating and swelling.
3. Anorexia: Infected dogs may experience a loss of appetite or a refusal to eat. This can contribute to weight loss and further deterioration of health.
4. Nausea & Vomiting: Intestinal parasites can irritate the stomach lining, leading to nausea and vomiting in affected dogs. Vomiting may contain worms or segments of worms, especially in severe cases.
5. Diarrhea: Diarrhea is a common symptom of intestinal parasite infections, characterized by loose or watery stools. The presence of blood or mucus in the stool may indicate a more severe infestation or secondary complications.
6. Weakness & Anemia: Chronic intestinal parasite infections can result in weakness, lethargy, and anemia (low red blood cell count) due to blood loss caused by intestinal bleeding or nutrient depletion.

How Your Veterinarian Checks for Parasites

• EXAM
• FECAL TEST
• BLOOD TEST: CBC, Chemistries, Parvo Test
• IMAGING: Like ultrasound and radiographs

Preventing Intestinal Parasites in Bulldogs

Preventative measures are the most effective and cost-efficient way to protect against parasites, associated diseases, and potential public health risks.

Choose Parasite Protection by the Exact Product

A flea-and-tick product is not automatically an intestinal dewormer. Plain NexGard (afoxolaner), Bravecto (fluralaner) and Simparica (sarolaner) are flea-and-tick products. Combination products have different ingredients and coverage. Your veterinarian can choose a plan for your dog’s age, weight, health and exposure.

Check the exact label. No single product should be assumed to cover every worm or protozoan parasite, including Giardia and coccidia.

Routine Stool Testing and Deworming

Routine Fecal Testing:

• Purpose: Fecal tests help detect the presence of intestinal parasites
• Frequency: CAPC recommends intestinal parasite testing at least four times during the first year and at least twice a year in adults, adjusted for health and lifestyle. Dogs with symptoms may need additional testing.

Preventive Deworming:

• Purpose: Deworming medications are used to treat and prevent intestinal parasite infections. Preventive deworming is particularly important in young animals, which are often more susceptible to parasites.
• Schedule: Puppies need an early deworming schedule with repeat doses. Continue veterinarian-directed, year-round parasite control as your dog grows; do not rely on a single annual deworming dose.

Supportive Supplements During Recovery

Supplements may support selected dogs during recovery, but they do not kill intestinal worms or protozoa and do not replace parasite medicines. Ask your veterinarian which products, if any, fit your dog’s needs.

STRESS RELIEF:

• V4B Bully StressLess Formula
• V4B Bully HEMP Relax & Calm

OPTIONAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT:

• V4B Immune Support
• V4B Bully Multivitamin
• V4B Bully Fish Oil EFA

GI HEALTH

• V4B Bully Probiotics
• V4B Gentle Move Fiber Formula

Treating Intestinal Parasites and Supporting Recovery

Treatment depends on the parasite found or suspected. Antibiotics are not routine worm treatments; some protozoal infections need specific medicines. Anti-nausea treatment, a suitable diet and fluids may be needed for a sick dog.

1. Dewormers
2. Parasite-specific medicines for protozoa when indicated
3. Anti Diarrhea
4. Anti Vomit
5. Dietary support
6. Fluid Support
7. Supplementation

Nobody wants to hear their dog has worms

A bulldog specialist, 20 years breed specific clinical experience

Straight talk

There is a particular look owners get when I told them the stool sample came back positive, and it is embarrassment. Especially in a house with small children. I want to take that off the table, because it is the thing that stops people mentioning it early. Parasites are not a verdict on how clean your home is or how well you look after your dog. Puppies very often arrive with roundworms already on board, passed down before they were born or through the milk, and no amount of mopping prevents that. The dogs I saw with the worst burdens were usually the best cared for, because their owners noticed the loose stool and brought them in. The practical part is this: one negative stool sample is weak evidence, since eggs are shed in waves and the sample you brought may have been from a quiet day. If the picture says parasites and the test says no, test again rather than concluding it is something else. And treat the yard as part of the problem, because that is where reinfection comes from and it is the step almost everybody skips.

🐾 An honest word about products

Nothing I sell kills a worm. Get the dewormer from your vet.

The thing that clears a parasite is a prescription dewormer, matched to the parasite your veterinarian actually found. No probiotic, no supplement and no natural remedy does that job, and a product sold to you on the suggestion that it might is worth walking away from. Get the stool tested, get the right drug, give the full course.

What happens afterward is a different question, and it is the one owners ask me most. A gut that has carried a worm burden, then taken a dewormer, is often unsettled for a good few weeks. Loose stool, a flat appetite, a dog who is simply off. That is the window where a probiotic may complement what your veterinarian has already done, by supporting the gut while it settles rather than by treating anything.

If your dog has finished a course of deworming and his digestion is taking its time, the probiotic range is where to look. Tell your veterinarian what you are giving.

See the probiotic range

To be clear: nothing here treats or prevents intestinal parasites, and a probiotic is not a substitute for a dewormer. This page is educational only and is not a substitute for veterinary examination, diagnosis or treatment.

Intestinal Parasites: Quick Answers

More Digestive Help from Dr. Kraemer

• Vomiting and diarrhea: gastroenteritis
• Frequent stools, straining and mucus: colitis
• Swallowed objects and intestinal obstruction
• Giardia infection in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
• Heartworm disease in Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
• Prevention and wellness guide for the Bulldog puppy

References

• Companion Animal Parasite Council General Guidelines
• CAPC Giardia Guidelines
• CAPC Hookworm Guidelines
• NexGard product information
• Simparica product information
• Bravecto for Dogs product information

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