Dogs can develop parasites in a number of ways, but the common result will be that the presence of parasites will negatively affect your dog's health. If you believe that your pet may be suffering from parasites, you'll want to call your local veterinary hospital and explain what you've noticed. You'll receive an appointment for a visit with the vet, during which they'll run some tests to determine what type of parasites, if any, are present. Once the vet has identified what is going on, they can begin to treat the parasites. Here are some indicators that can suggest the presence of parasites in a dog.

Stool Changes

Even if doing so isn't exactly pleasant, it's a good habit to check your dog's stools when you pick them up in a plastic bag. A quick inspection of the stools can often reveal health issues such as parasites. Some parasites can actually be visible to the naked eye in the stools. For example, you may notice a number of small white lines on the surface of the stools. These markings represent the presence of parasites and should prompt you to contact the veterinary clinic. They may have you keep one of the stool samples for testing.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Dogs that have parasites can often experience weight loss. While you might notice that your dog is losing weight if you've started to feed it less or have begun to exercise it more, unexplained weight loss can be a concern. If you've noticed that your dog looks or feels skinnier — or you occasionally weigh the pet and have noted a drop in its weight that you can't explain — there's a risk that parasites may be causing the change in the animal's weight.

Apparent Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can be another indicator that your dog is dealing with parasites. As a dog owner, it's important for you to notice some signs that belly pain may be bothering your pet. For example, it may constantly shift positions while resting, which could suggest that it is experiencing pain that is preventing it from lying comfortably. If you gently touch your pet's abdominal region, it may pull away or show other signs of discomfort, such as whimpering. In some cases, a pet may even react aggressively to contact in this area. If one or more of these issues is present with your dog, contact an animal hospital.