What are the most common worms found in dogs and cats?
The worms most likely to infect your pet are either roundworms (Toxocara) or tapeworms (Taenia or Dipylidium).
My children have worms. Did they get these from the dog?
It is most likely that your children have pinworm (sometimes called threadworm). This is a completely different worm to that most commonly infecting dogs, which is called Toxocara. Dogs do not get pinworm, and are in no way responsible for the children’s infections. So don’t blame them!! The children will have picked up their infections at school, most probably.
Where has my pet caught these worms from?
Roundworm eggs are usually picked up on pads or fur, following a trip to the park, or perhaps to a neighbour’s garden. When Butch and Kitty come home and groom themselves, they swallow the eggs, so infecting themselves.
The most common type of tapeworm is carried by fleas. Immature stages of tapeworms developing inside the fleas are swallowed when an itchy pet grooms him or herself, catches the annoying flea and swallows it. Once in the stomach, the flea is digested away, and the baby tapeworm is released to infect your pet.
A second type of tapeworm is transmitted by small mammals (eg mice and rabbits). A cat who regularly hunts is likely to be constantly infecting himself with this type of tapeworm.
How do I know if my pet has worms?
This can be difficult, or even impossible to tell. In adult pets, roundworms cause no obvious symptoms, unless they are present in extremely high numbers. In young puppies and kittens, symptoms may include increased or suppressed appetite, poor coat condition, ill thrift, pot belly, and possibly wasting. However, most commonly, no obvious signs will be seen.
The flea tapeworm may cause itching around the anus, as the segments that are shed may still be moving, and can cause intense irritation.
A regular programme of worming, at the recommended 3-monthly intervals, is the only way to ensure that your pet remains free of worms.
Where can I buy a wormer that is suitable for my pet?
These are available from all good petshops.
I didn’t see any worms after I wormed my pet. Does that mean that it didn’t work?
No. Most, if not all, the dead worms will have disintegrated before they are passed out in the faeces.
All good wormers are fully licenced Veterinary Medicines, which means that they have been proven to work, to be safe when used as directed, and to be manufactured to a consistently high standard. So, as long as you followed the instructions on the pack, you can be sure that the product has worked.
My pet is not well at the moment. I want to worm him in case it is worms that are making him unwell. Is it OK to do this?
It is impossible for anyone other than your own vet to confirm this. You need to seek his/her advice before doing anything.
