Intestinal parasites, most commonly called “worms” are hazardous to a pet’s health. They can be contracted in various ways, such as from nursing, skin contact, and other animals. Intestinal parasites can cause anemia, weight loss, increased appetite, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. The most common intestinal parasites are hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, and tapeworms; the course of treatment varies on degree and type of infestation and the pet. Tapeworms in pets are secondary to fleas, if your pet has tapeworms, then you need to also treat for fleas (click here for more). If you are concerned about your pet having intestinal parasites or if you are seeing “worms” in the stool, All Animal Clinic recommends bringing in your pet for a fecal examination (or you can bring in a fresh stool sample to be examined by an All Animal Clinic technician).