INTESTINAL WORMING FACTS
What worms should I worm against?
For both dogs and cats, it is highly recommended that you protect them against tapeworm, hookworm, and roundworm. For dogs, protection is also recommended against whipworm.
When should I worm my pet?
Worming your puppy or kitten should start at around two weeks old and needs to be every 2 weeks until they are 3 months old. Then monthly until they are 6 months old, and then once every 3 months depending on the product you are using.
Frequent deworming will kill worms that are present but it is very easy for your pet to become reinfested and so it’s important to continue deworming your pet all year round. Some intestinal worm species can produce large numbers of eggs, for example roundworm can lay 200,000 eggs per day within five weeks of infestation. It's important to maintain a regular deworming program for your pets to reduce eggs being shed into the environment.
My pet is difficult to worm
Some pets may refuse to eat a tablet, or you find it hard to administer the tablet. Try hiding the tablet in their food or small piece of meat, to disguise the smell and taste. If they still refuse to eat it, contact us and we can recommend other available worming methods like a spot-on.
How do I know if my pet has worms?
Some of the signs that your pet has worms include weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, scooting on their backside, lethargy and generally not being themselves. Often pets can have worms and show no obvious signs.
Can I get worms from my dog?
The short answer is yes, many worms infesting dogs are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Different worms cause different diseases and each have their own symptoms. Whilst anyone can become infected by intestinal worms, children and those who are immunocompromised are at greater risk. One of the most important ways to reduce human exposure is regular deworming of your pets.