When you first notice it, it's scary. Worms wriggling in your dog's vomit can easily give you the chills and is also a worrisome indication that your dog is struggling with an infection. Even if your dog hasn't been exhibiting any unusual symptoms, the worms that have infected their body may slowly but surely be infiltrating their organs or even releasing toxins that are harmful to their body. Here are 3 things you should do before taking your dog to the vet.

Store the Worms and the Vomit in a Plastic Bag

Even though just looking at the worms may make you feel sick, you'll want to use a plastic bag to scoop up the worms and the vomit. Store the worms and the vomit in the bag and bring them along with you to the appointment with the veterinarian. Being able to physically see the worm can help your veterinarian easily determine the type of worms that your dog has, as well as the severity of the infection. 

There are a multitude of different types of worms that could have infected your dog's body. The 5 most common types includes heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and whipworms. Each one can be easily identified by their physical appearance. Your veterinarian may also be able to determine what lifecycle the worms are in or how old the worms are just by taking a look at them. In short, don't freak out, and pack the worms up, as they offer valuable information to veterinarians.

Keep Records of Your Dog's Energy Levels and Diet 

Having worms can have a huge impact on your dog's physical condition and health. Knowing how the worms are affecting your dog can give the veterinarian valuable insight as to the type of medical examinations that may be needed. To better provide your veterinarian with the information they need, keep records of your dog's energy levels, diet, mood and any other information that may seem out of the ordinary. For example, you might want to include what your dog is eating, how much water they're drinking and whether they seem to enjoy runs and walks just as much as before. You might even want to take note of whether your dog is pooping and how their poop looks.

Be as detailed as possible with your note. Include time, date, location and any other tidbits of detail that you may have noticed. If the worms have already begun impacting your dog's organs, keeping tabs on your dog can help a veterinarian determine how severe the condition may be.

Gather Veterinarian Records of Previous Medications Administered and More

Letting your veterinarian know what worked and what didn't work is also important. If you're visiting a new veterinarian or if you have bounced from veterinarian to veterinarian, you'll want to gather as many veterinarian documents as possible. In particular, you want to find documents regarding the type of medications that your dog may have already been prescribed before so that your veterinarian won't make a bad mistake and prescribe another medication that may cross-react with the first.

You'll also want to gather veterinarian records that might provide insight to your dog's physical condition in the past. The veterinarian will want to compare the results presented in old medical documents with the results obtained from any examinations they may have administered. This will give your veterinarian a better idea as to whether your dog's health is declining or not.

Conclusion 

Don't freak out if you notice worms in your dog's puke. Depending on the type of worm that it is, as well as how grown it is, the worms may not have even had the chance and opportunity to cause serious damage to your dog's physical condition and health. For more information, talk to a veterinarian.