𝗗𝗘𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚
𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗩𝗘𝗧
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Deworming is essential preventative care to deal with parasites (internal and external) to improve your pet’s health. Puppies and kittens are usually born with parasites passed on from the mother (even if the mother has been dewormed) before they are born.
Because you can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they’re not there. Sometimes we can see worms in our pet’s faeces, although this is not always the case. When in doubt, speak to your vet as a faecal examination can be done to check for parasites.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗱𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝘁?
It is recommended to start de-worming kittens when they are between 4 and 6 weeks old and then at 8 weeks and 12 weeks of age. After that they should be wormed monthly until 6 months of age. Once 6 months old, worming can continue every 3 months or monthly if the cat is an active hunter.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗱𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗴?
It is recommended to start doing this at a young age. Deworm a puppy younger than eight weeks every two weeks, pups of eight weeks to six months old every month, and it is recommended to deworm dogs older than six months four times a year.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀
There are several types of internal parasites that cause problems in dogs and include roundworms, such as 𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪, 𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘢; heartworm (𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴); tapeworms, such as 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘮, 𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢 species, and 𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴 species; hookworms, such as 𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢 species.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀?
Intestinal worms can be a serious problem in young kittens so hookworms can cause anaemia and roundworms can lead to poor growth and development. Tapeworms can also accumulate in high numbers, leading to intestinal obstruction.
Heartworm disease is increasingly recognised as a threat to cats. Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause extensive damage within the heart and lungs.
In adult cats, however, intestinal parasites are only occasionally life-threatening.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀
There are several types of internal parasites that cause problems in dogs and include roundworms, such as 𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪, 𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘢; heartworm (𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴); tapeworms, such as 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘮, 𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢 species, and 𝘌𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴 species; hookworms, such as 𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢 species, and whipworms (𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘴).
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀?
Intestinal worms can be a serious problem in young puppies so hookworms can cause anaemia and roundworms can lead to poor growth and development.
Heartworm disease is a life-threatening parasite, spread by mosquitoes and causing significant damage within the heart and lungs.
In adult dogs, however, intestinal parasites are only occasionally life-threatening.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀?
- A pot-bellied appearance
- Diarrhoea blood in their poo could be a sign of worms
- Dry coat
- Eggs or worms in your pet’s poo or vomit but not all worms are big enough to be seen
- Ravenous appetite
- Scratching or rubbing their bum could be a sign of worms
- Weight loss
- Worms in their fur or around their bum
𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲
- Pets cannot develop immunity against worms.
- If you have more than one pet, treat the flea infestation and/or deworm all your pets simultaneously.
- Fleas and worms are closely linked as the lifecycle of certain worms that affect our pets involves fleas harbouring worm eggs in their gut. However if an animal doesn’t have fleas, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have worms as not all worm life cycles involve the flea. Most pet owners aren’t aware that fleas can carry eggs from a number of other creatures including tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.
- Get dewormers from either your vet or vetshop.
𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥
This article is produced by SAVetshops, in the interest of informing people and sharing information. It is not considered a reference article or a definitive medical reference. Source references are listed below and any person wishing to know more should consult these references, their local vet, state health service or doctor.
𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦:
Companion Veterinary Clinic, Erin Jones B.Sc., AWC, CPDT Candidate, https://www.companionvet.ca/
Yarrah, https://www.yarrah.com/en/blog/
FirstVet, https://firstvet.com/uk/
VCA Animal Hospitals, Ernest Ward, DVM; Catherine Barnette, DVM, https://vcahospitals.com/