Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 11/19/2005

Question
WORMS 20-30 FOUND IN HIS STOOL,  HE ALSO VOMITED A
WHITE WORM.  HOW DID HE GET WORMS!  HE GOT LOOSE THE
OTHER NIGHT AND WAS RUNNING AROUND IN THE WOODS FOR
ABOUT AN HOUR.  THE  NEXT DAY ...ONLY 12 HOURS LATER...WE
FOUND THE WORMS!  COULD HE HAVE GOTTEN THEM SO FAST.  
HE IS ON PANACUR; HOWEVER, CAN YOU GIVE ME MORE
INFO...OR A WEBSITE THAT WOULD GIVE ME INFO ON ROUND
WORMS AND HOW DOGS GET THEM!  

Answer
Small white worms are usually tapeworms and dogs get them from eating fleas.  Panacur is not effective for those types of worms.  Round worms are usually transmitted form a mother to her young and it is very unusual for an older dog to get them.  Sometimes if an oder dog eats the infected stool of a puppy, they can get roundworms.