Worm found on paw

[Josh Adams]

We just found this worm on our GD pup's paw. Does anyone know what this could be? Thanks. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Looks like a segment of an earthworm. Maybe he just picked it up outside? 

[Amy and Annabelle]

I agree, it does look like part of an earthworm, not a parasite. I have heard that dogs like to eat dried earthworms. Maybe your doodle prefers the slimy over the dried.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna likes to roll in earthworms, slimy or dried :/  It's her favorite cologne.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've heard of quite a few dogs who like to roll in worms. :)

[Christine]

Nala always rolls on dead worms! Lol. I read something online about it being an ancestral trait of covering up their own scent in hopes of evading predators.  Lol.  Luna is beautiful! She is similar to my Nala. Plus they have the worm thing in common :)

christine

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Definitely not a parasite. Parasitic worms are teeny tiny and are in the dog, not on the dog, lol. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

When I first noticed Annabelle's, it was 2" or so long and thin white. Hers weren't what I would call tiny. Certainly big enough for me to see without my glasses. I was thinking more along the lines of ending up on the paw after doing her business. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Do you know what kind of worms she had?

[Amy and Annabelle]

They were roundworms. She was 4 months old then. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, I've never heard of an adult roundworm being on a dog, but I guess anything is possible, lol. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

No hers weren't on her, I was just wondering if one could end up on a dogs foot if a dog were to play in it after doing their business. At 4 months Annabelle was still on a leash when we went outside, so she never got the chance,  but now on her own, she probably would notice it and stick her paw in it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think the eggs are found in the feces, but that the adult worms usually live their entire lives inside the dogs' intestinal tract. I don't think it's likely that one would end up on the dogs' foot or anywhere on the ouside of the body. But it sounds like you did see the adult worms in the stool, so it must be possible.

I know that segments of tapeworms are found in the feces after they are killed, and those can be seen, appearing as grains of rice.