Does it matter if my pet has worms?
Yes - for 2 reasons:
- Worms can cause health problems for your dog – such as vomiting and diarrhoea in young animals. Sometimes the worms are vomited up – they can be over 15cm long. Worms can lead to poor growth and the classic ‘pot bellied’ appearance. Very heavy infestations can lead to pneumonia as the worms migrate through the lungs as part of the life cycle. In extreme cases, large numbers of worms can obstruct the bowel.
- Worms can be transmitted to humans. Worm larvae can migrate around the human body, to the eye (causing loss of vision and blindness), or the lungs or liver, or in the central nervous system.
Which worms can dogs and cats get?
There are 2 main types: roundworms and tapeworms.
- Roundworms are circular in cross-section, and most live in the intestine.
- Tapeworms are flat, and release segments which look like grains of rice – these contain eggs. These eggs must enter a second host before they can affect the final host (dog or cat).
- The flea tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) – tapeworm eggs must be ingested by fleas or lice, then the pet is infected when it accidentally eats the flea/louse.
- Taenia species – the second host can be rodents (for cats) and sheep, cows and rabbits for dogs. Dogs and cats become infected when they eat prey (eg cat eating a mouse) or uncooked meat or offal.
There are 2 important types of tapeworm:
How did my pet get worms?
- Roundworms in the gut of infected dogs and cats produce thousands of microscopic eggs which pass out in the animal’s faeces. Larvae develop in the eggs, which develop into worms when eaten by a dog or cat. Eggs are very resilient and can survive for years in the environment, long after the faeces has gone, leading to contaminated soil, pavements, etc. The eggs stick to the paws of dogs and cats as they walk on them, then the pet ingests them, for example when grooming.
- Tapeworms are passed on by the pet ingesting infested fleas, prey or meat (cows/sheep).
- In addition, puppies get roundworms from their mum, both across the placenta and from infected milk (the milk of the mother will contain worm larvae).
Puppies start producing worm eggs in their faeces by about 2 weeks of age. A recent study of 7-10 week old puppies showed each female Toxacara canis roundworm produced 25,000-84,000 eggs each day. So puppies produce vast numbers of worm eggs, which contaminate the environment.
How will I know if my pet has worms? I’ve never seen any!
You probably will not know – and this is one of the arguments in favour of regular worming.
- Worm eggs are microscopic so inspecting your pet’s motions will not be sufficient to detect the presence of worm eggs.
- You may see worms e.g. in motions or vomit especially in young puppies, but often there are no visible signs.
- Sometimes dogs ‘scoot’ ie drag their bottoms, due to irritation caused by the worms
- Puppies should be assumed to be infected.
- Dogs which hunt and consume prey have a high risk of harbouring tapeworms.
Why should I worm my pet regularly?
Based on the information above, it can be seen that regular worming:
- Protects your dog from potential ill-health
- Stops other dogs getting infected
- Protects your family from ill health – such as blindness caused by roundworm larvae
- To reduce contamination of worm eggs in the environment. In a recent survey (Veterinary Record 163, 394-395), roundworm eggs were found in fenced-off play areas tested in southern England, showing that soil can be contaminated even in areas where dogs supposedly have no access)
- Should be regarded as an essential part of being a responsible dog/cat owner!
How often should I worm my pet?
Practice Recommendation:
- Puppies and kittens under 6 months old should be wormed at least monthly from 2 weeks (puppies) and 6 weeks (kittens).
- For animals over 6 months old, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) recommends a minimum worming frequency of at least every 3 months but monthly in higher risk situations, such as:
- Cats that hunt/dogs that scavenge
- Animals which have any contact with children.
- Farm dogs
- Animals not regularly flea-treated
What’s the best way to worm my pet?
There are many products on the market for worming dogs and cats. One recent trial showed that 77% of dogs with worms had a single species of worm, 19% had 2 worm species, and 4% had 3 different types of worms. This shows us that, to eradicate these different types, a wormer that is highly effective against different types of worms should be used. Unfortunately, the wormers on the market do not all achieve this.
There are no wormers available to prevent worms – so the best approach is to kill worms that are present on a regular basis
- Make sure you know your pet’s weight accurately – under-dosing with a worm product will reduce how effective it is. You are welcome to bring your pet to the surgery so it can be weighed accurately, then we can help you choose the best wormer for your needs.
- Choose a product which is proven to be effective – it should not only kill the worms but also reduce the level of egg output and, hence, environmental contamination. The newer, modern wormers on the market are generally very effective, very safe and good value for money such as ones containing milbemycin oxime/ praziquantel, or pyrantel/praziquantel (unfortunately regulations won’t allow us to mention trade names, only active ingredients – please ask at the surgery for more information).
- Choose a convenient product – some wormers require dosing for days with different coloured tablets, making them difficult to use. We would advise the use of a wormer which involves giving usually just 1 or 2 multi-worming tablets as a single dose.
- Regular flea control concurrently is advisable to reduce spread of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum, which is transmitted via fleas.
Our highly-trained staff will be happy to guide you towards the best product for your pet, please contact the surgery.
I can’t give my pet tablets, are there any alternatives?
Yes!
- You can bring your pet to the surgery for one of our nurses to administer a worming tablet. There is no charge for this, only for the tablet.
- There are excellent spot-on wormers available now for both dogs and cats, applied in a similar way to flea control products to the skin at the back of the neck (eg ones containing selamectin).
- There are liquid wormers for dogs and cats, which can be mixed with the food or squirted directly into the pet’s mouth (containing lufenuron).
How long does the effect of the wormer last?
Wormers do not persist in the body, and they don’t remain active against worms. Eg a worming tablet will probably only last for a few hours. This is why it is advisable to worm your pet regularly, and keep it away from sources of worm infection.
Is there anything else I should do?
Regularly worming your dog is crucial to reduce the contamination of environmental soil. This will reduce the exposure hazard to both humans and other animals.
Another important take-home message is to always clear up after your dog ie poop-scooping. Faeces should be removed soon after they have been passed (e.g. in your garden) as the eggs are not immediately infective. Delaying removing them increases the risks to you and your family.
My local shop sells wormers, are they the same as the ones at the vets?
Probably not – supermarkets and pet shops can only sell wormers which as no longer licensed, usually because they are old products or haven’t been rigorously tested to check they work (such as herbal products). The concern is that they may not kill all the worms that are present. In addition, dosing can be confusing and complicated; some must not be given to cats (risk of poisoning), or animals with kidney problems; some must be given mixed with food – which your pet may not eat; some contain chocolate which sends a mixed message (chocolate is considered harmful to dogs). For all these reasons, these products may not represent good value for money and more importantly, may not protect your pet or your family.
Practice recommendation:
Only use a worming product that is proven to work
