Why Are There Worms In My Dog’s Water Bowl?

Us, canine lovers, only want what`s best for our canine companions. It goes without saying that even the smallest things, such as your pooch having clean water, is an essential matter.

worms in dog water bowl
Source: ShutterStock.com

With so many illnesses, parasites and wild infections threatening your little pal, keeping them out of danger might not always be easy.

If it happened for you to find worms in your canine`s water, there`s also good news: they might not come from your furry friend but rather from elsewhere …the environment.

However, this doesn`t necessarily mean there are worms everywhere as most of the time worms hit just stagnant water.

Luckily, we aim to help in order to be sure your dog is properly protected from just about any medical condition that can be prevented.

What Are These Worms?

It can definitely be unsettling to find these little creatures in your furry friend`s water bowl. As a result, you might have some inquiries when finding them, one of which may very well be related to what they are. (Lover, 2022)

If you notice some tiny worms in the outdoor water bowl of your dog, it might be mosquitos, maggots or other kind of insect larvae.

They may very well be Gordian worms, which are parasites to crustaceans or insects, not necessarily canines or felines. These worms have quite an interesting cycle of life, really similar to xenomorphs in the great franchise knowns as “Alien.”

These parasitoid animals are widely known as Horsehair worms, and they belong to the Nematomorpha group, also known as Gordiacea. (“Nematomorpha – Wikipedia”, 2022)

Anyway, these worms are known to be among the most underappreciated as well as understudied animal groups.

These worms can get quite long sometimes and may appear all of the sudden in domestic water sources, such as pet water bowls, therefore making dog interactions with them extremely common. (Bolek et al., 2015)

How Can My Dog Catch Worms?

Dog owners often listen to too many misconceptions between their pets and worms. So, let`s set the record straight a bit. (“10 Myths About Heartworm Disease – Homestead Animal Hospital”, 2022)

There are some types of worms that, obviously, can infect canines. A lot of these worm infections aren`t really severe and can easily be managed by following your vet`s advice. – More info!

Worms are most of the time spread through small poo bits from other dogs that are experiencing a worm infection themselves. Other ones are simply caught through food. (“Worms in humans”, 2022)

Your canine companion can get infected by:

  • Touching surfaces and objects that have worm eggs.
  • Consuming raw fish, pork or beef (same issue if it`s undercooked).
  • Eating food or swallowing water with worm eggs.

What Happens If a Dog Drinks Water with Worms?

Although larvae can lead to heartworm and they are passed on by mosquitoes, they don`t lead to heartworm in canines. (Lewis, 2022)

Also, they aren`t dangerous and don`t really pose any serious danger to dogs unless a large amount of these things has been ingested.

If you think your fluffy friend has been eating worms but don`t show any signs, you can rest assured your little pal will go on with its life without any worries. (Hawk, 2022)

maggots in water bowl
Source: ShutterStock.com

Can Dogs Spread Worms through Water Bowl?

Shortly put, yes! Fecal-contaminated water dishes can welcome any type of worms from whipworms to roundworms or hookworms. (Arford, 2022)

Have you heard of Giardia? As Nicholas (2022) clearly outlines in its recent article, this is a parasite which lives in a canine`s intestine. This single-celled parasite doesn`t only survive in your dog`s water; in fact, it flourishes in it!

These nasty little creatures can lead to irritation and other severe illnesses if they aren`t noticed in time. (Arford, 2022)

How Do I Keep Worms Away from my Dog`s Water Bowl?

Your best bet to keep your dog healthy and away of these disgusting creatures is to follow the below steps to the letter.

  • Clean the entire area – It`s not always only about your dog`s water bowl. The entire surrounding area must be clean of any worms. Also, you have to consider your little pal`s poop, its pee as well as any plants around. (March, 2022)
  • Clean your dog`s water bowl more often – Obviously, the very first thing you need to do if you have worm issues with your dog`s bowl is to rinse the dish and sterilize it. (Davies, 2022)
  • Bathe your fluffy friend – As March (2022) states, your dog`s scent may attract fleas. Therefore, if your pooch stinks, there shouldn`t be any surprise if fleas are flying around. Use the most appropriate shampoo & conditioner for your dog`s breed and keep your little friend clean at all times. – More like this!
  • Use mosquito dunks – You could place mosquito dunks in your canine companion`s bowl to kill any larvae inside. This contains an active ingredient known as BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), a compound fatal to mosquitoes or larvae, but not harmful for pets in any way. (Abraham, 2022)
  • Use a stainless-steel water bowl – Plastic water bowls will always be more predisposed to bacteria or worms. A stainless-steel bowl is much more suitable for our purpose. You could also turn to a glass or ceramic water bowl, but those break so easily. (March, 2022)
  • Use apple cider vinegar – A teaspoon of this common kitchen ingredient might discourage any worms from laying around eggs in your dog`s bowl. They might be deterred from the vinegar`s scent as well as kill any existing larvae in the process. (Abraham, 2022)

What Is the Best Water Bowl for my Dog?

Maybe a fountain water bowl is more suitable for your dog`s needs. The PetSafe Drinkwell 1/2, 1, or 2 Gallon Pet Fountain keeps the water moving all the time, which makes it a lot more difficult for fleas and mosquitoes to lay eggs around.

There`s a great product available below for you to review that is very is to clean and refill, it has an adjustable stream and an anti-splash feature.

In addition, you also get a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer.

PetSafe Drinkwell 2 Gallon Dog Water Fountain – Best for Large Dog Breeds and Multiple Pet Households – Easy-to-Clean Pet Water Dispenser – Filters Included – Grey

Conclusion

If it may happen for you to see tiny, squiggly worms wondering around in your little pal`s water bowl, they might be larvae of mosquitoes or flies.

They may not look friendly, but they won`t do any immediate harm to your dog either.

Still, this shouldn`t mean that you have to let them swim there indefinitely. At some point, they`ll develop into adult insects, being able of transmitting illness not only to your canine but your entire family as well.

Thus, it`s essential to keep your dog`s environment fresh and clean to the best of our abilities.

Reference List:

10 Myths About Heartworm Disease – Homestead Animal Hospital. Homestead Animal Hospital. (2022). Retrieved 31 January 2022, from https://www.thehomesteadanimalhospital.com/10-myths-about-heartworm-disease/.

Abraham, H. (2022). Oh No! Little Black Worms In My Dog’s Water Dish!. JoyPetProducts. Retrieved 12 February 2022, from https://joypetproducts.com/little-black-worms-in-dog-water-dish/.

Arford, K. (2022). Is It Safe for Dogs to Drink Out Of Communal Water Bowls? – American Kennel Club. American Kennel Club. Retrieved 13 February 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/is-it-safe-for-dogs-to-drink-out-of-communal-water-bowls/.

Bolek, M., Schmidt-Rhaesa, A., De Villalobos, L., & Hanelt, B. (2015). Thorp and Covich’s Freshwater Invertebrates (Fourth Edition). Academic Press, 303-326. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-385026-3.00015-2.

Davies, K. (2022). Why Are There Worms In Your Dog’s Water Bowl?. Petloverguy.com. Retrieved 14 February 2022, from https://petloverguy.com/why-are-there-worms-in-your-dogs-water-bowl/.

Hawk, M. (2022). What Should You Do If Your Dog Ate Maggots?. Animal Nerdz. Retrieved 13 February 2022, from https://animalnerdz.com/dog-ate-maggots/.

Lewis, B. (2022). Can Mosquito Larvae Cause Heartworm in Dogs?. Dog Care – Daily Puppy. Retrieved 13 February 2022, from https://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/can-mosquito-larvae-cause-heartworm-dogs-6248.html.

Lover, P. (2022). Worms In Dog Water Bowl : 4 Brutal Health Issues To Watch Out For. Learn About Pet. Retrieved 12 February 2022, from https://learnaboutpet.com/worms-in-dog-water-bowl/.

March, A. (2022). Worms and Maggots in Your Dog’s Water Bowl – What to Do? – AnimalFate. AnimalFate. Retrieved 31 January 2022, from https://www.animalfate.com/worms-and-maggots-in-your-dogs-water-bowl/.

Myers, K. (2022). Why Are There Worms In My Dog’s Water Bowl?. Dog lover’s digest. Retrieved 31 January 2022, from https://www.dogloversdigest.com/why-are-there-worms-in-my-dogs-water-bowl/.

Nematomorpha – Wikipedia. En.wikipedia.org. (2022). Retrieved 12 February 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematomorpha.

Worms in humans. nhs.uk. (2022). Retrieved 11 February 2022, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/worms-in-humans/.

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