Whether it’s roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, or whipworms, your dog is probably susceptible to them.
Any kind of worm can make life rough for your pet, and as such, you’ll want to get them treated as quickly and efficiently as possible.
But how can you tell if your dog has worms? And what are its symptoms?
You might also be wondering how to get rid of them, and if beer works to kill worms in your dog specifically.
This is an age-old home remedy for dogs, but many are unsure of its effectiveness. If any of these quandaries apply to you, read on to learn more.
The Signs and Symptoms of Worms in Your Dog
Before we address the main question, let’s take a look at what symptoms and signs your dog might display while infected with worms.
It may be simple to identify them, as you might notice them physically in your dog’s vomit or stool.
Even though some types of worms and parasites can be identified with the naked eye, many types are too small to identify this way.
You may want to take a sample of your dog’s waste to a veterinary clinic if you suspect your dog may have worms but are unable to identify it physically.
Beyond this, other symptoms may include the following:
- Diarrhea
- Bloody Stool
- Weight Loss
- Sickly appearance
- Dry or brittle hair
- Vomiting
- Distended belly
- Licking its rear end
If your dog is showing signs of any of the above symptoms, it would be a good idea to schedule a visit to the veterinary clinic.
This way, a trained professional can give your dog a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Species of Worms That May Affect Your Dog
One of the primary reasons your vet checks your dog’s stool sample every year is to ensure your pet does not have worms or intestinal parasites.
There are four types of worms that are the most common the vet will be watching out for.
Only certain types can be seen by the naked eye, including roundworms and tapeworms. If you’re careful, you could very well notice these before the vet does!
Tapeworms
Tapeworms can often be passed to dogs if they ingest fleas.
Fleas will often eat tapeworm eggs, and then subsequently, the dogs eat the fleas.
Tapeworms have a long, thin segments body with a small head at one end.
Surprisingly, tapeworms can grow up to 4 to 6 inches inside your dog’s instestines! This worm may shed its segments after some time, and this is how you or your vet may notice your dog is infected by a tapeworm.
You may see the remnants of old segments in your dog’s fur or stool.
These segments may have the appearance of small grains of rice.
Disgustingly enough, they also may wiggle a little before drying out and dying outside of the dog.
These segments may also contain the tapeworm’s eggs so if you find them, dispose of them and make sure your pet is treated to eliminate the tapeworm.
Roundworms
Many puppies are born with these microscopic worms already living in their tissues as the larvae are passed to them from their mothers.
If this transmission doesn’t take place in utero, it can also happen when they are feeding from their mothers as they can be passed through breast milk.
They’re usually white or light brown and can be up to a few inches long. If your pet is infected they will likely be visible in his stool or even vomit.
Although these worms are common in puppies, adult dogs can be infected if the worms are in their environment.
Natural Remedies to Treat Worms in Dogs
There are several natural remedies that people swear by when treating their dogs of worms, including the main question of this article.
That being, does beer actually work in getting rid of worms in dogs?
And what are some other remedies that might work?
Let’s first address a few lesser known remedies.
The first one on the list is apple cider vinegar.
Giving apple cider vinegar to your dog can make their intestines inhospitable to any worms that may be making their home there.
It can be difficult to get your dog to ingest apple cider vinegar, due to its stringent and acidic taste.
You can try adding it to your dog’s water in small amounts, allowing it to be introduced to your dog’s system slowly over time.
Apple cider vinegar also has other health benefits besides killing worms, so this could be a great way to get rid of those pesky parasites!
Another home remedy is feeding your dog chopped carrots.
This might seem strange, but coarsely chopped vegetables can scrape the insides of your dog’s intestines, dislodging any worms that may be nesting there.
Dried coconut can also have the same effect and may be easier to administer to your dog. Alternatively, coconut oil has also been rumored to be just as effective.
Turmeric and chamomile have also been known to cure worms in dogs due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
They also contain compounds that not only serve to get rid of the worms, but also help to heal and repair the lining of their intestines. These both can help your dog to be healthier and happier.
Lastly, kefir is a fermented drink that can help to get rid of a worms infection.
Dairy milk kefir may be difficult for your dog to ingest, so opt for the coconut or goat’s milk varieties if you can.
Try adding the kefir to the dog’s food, or they might enjoy it as a separate treat also.
Using Beer to Treat Worms in Dogs
Now onto the main topic: Does beer actually work in treating worms in dogs?
This is an age-old home remedy for treating worms in dogs, but is it effective?
The rumor is that the beer sterilizes the worms, rendering them incapable of continuing to reproduce.
Well, why should you use beer instead of normal medications?
And what are the risks of these medications?
Certain health risks may come with both kinds of treatments.
Most anti-worm medications contain Invermectin, which in itself is actually a poison.
This poison is meant to target the worms in your dog, but some breeds of dogs may be susceptible to the poison as well.
Breeds especially susceptible to Ivermectin poisoning include sheepdogs, Whippets, terriers, collies, shepherds, and windhounds.
As far as the beer treatment goes, it’s important that you use only a certain kind of beer.
The only beer that is rumored to work is Guinness Black Draught, brewed and produced in Dublin, Ireland. It cannot come from anywhere else.
It is rumored that the hops and water in the Dublin area are what renders this treatment effective, sterilizing the worms so that more larvae cannot be produced.
The infection will then die off with the sterile parent worms.
It’s also important to note that many dogs may be susceptible to alcohol poisoning, so you should adhere to a strict dosage when administering beer as a treatment for worms.
Puppies may be especially susceptible to the adverse effects of alcohol, and so normal medications should be used in their case.
The dosages are divided into size classes for each dog, and you should administer no more than 1 ounce of beer per 25 pounds of dog.
So, if your dog weighs around 50 pounds, be sure to give it only 2 ounces of beer. It’s best to give them this dose every two weeks for three months until the infection is gone.
Beer For Dogs
To finish off, I want to discuss something a bit different.
Instead of talking about using beer to cure worms, I want to finsh this article by talking a bit about dog beer- beer which is brewed specifically for dogs.
Now let me assure you that this that dog beer isn’t real beer as there is no alcohol in it.
Companies are using the term “dog beer” as a catchy market phrase.
The idea behind it is that dogs are so important to our lives that they are like our friends.
And many of us share a beer with our friends and so why not share a beer with your four legged best friend?!
And there are three dog beers that I want to look at.
The first is Subwoofer IPA by BrewDog.
This original dog brew contains malted barley and hot water, with a special recipe that is sure to get a definitive reaction from the best pups out there.
Originally developed by their kitchen team at their Liverpool bar, Subwoofer turned out to be a huge success!
The next is Dog Brew by Busch.
Busch’s Dog Brew is an all-natural products that contains only the freshest ingredients, including vegetables, herbs, spices, water, and pork broth.
This will provide your dog with a tasty snack that helps promote a healthy digestive system.
And finally, we have Woof and Brew’s Bottom Sniffer Beer for dogs.
This iconic and fun beverage will provide the perfect refreshment for your dog after a long day’s work. Serve it to them as a drink or over their food!
So even if you are hesitant to fight an attack of worms with beer, you might want to kick back and share a drink of beer with your dog instead.
Final Thoughts
So, we’ve covered just about all there is to know about worms and how to treat them in your dog.
And specifically, we’ve addressed the age-old myth of whether or not beer will kill worms in dogs.
The conclusion is that there are many different possible home remedies for worms in dogs, and beer very well may be an effective treatment, if it’s the right kind of beer.
Follow these tips outlined in the article above to stay on top of your dog’s cardiovascular and intestinal health.
Stay one step ahead of those pesky parasites!