Worming your pet protects not only their health but your family’s too
Giving my clients advice on parasite control is an important part of my job as a vet.At my practice in Notting Hill, we tailor our advice to the needs of the individual patient and explain the risks if you don’t protect your pet from parasites like worms which can be harmful to both humans and animals.
There are many different worms that our cats and dogs can be infested with so in this article we’ll concern ourselves with the main ones – roundworm, tapeworm and lungworm.
Roundworm
Cats and dogs are regularly exposed to the roundworm called Toxocara. It is spread through the placenta and milk of the mother to puppies and kittens and then by the faeces of infested cats and dogs.In small puppies and kittens a large roundworm burden can cause them to be very sick and even die from malnutrition but in adults this is rarely the case.
The primary reason that we worm adult cats and dogs is for public safety. The eggs of Toxocara can be ingested by children and hatch in their guts. If the larvae migrate into the bloodstream and lodge in the retinas it can cause blindness. This is very rare in the UK but it is a potential risk and for this reason we recommend all adult cats and dogs are regularly treated against roundworm.
Tapeworm
These parasites are primarily transmitted by fleas to cats and dogs. If your cat or dog gets a tapeworm it can cause weight loss and malnutrition.
Using a good flea control and regularly worming your pet helps to keep them safe.
Lungworm
In dogs, there is a relatively new and very serious worm called lungworm (Angiostrongylus). This worm is transmitted by slugs and snails and also their slime.Regular treatment against lungworm is extremely important as before any obvious symptoms of lung problems are evident the worm prevents the dog's blood from clotting. Lungworm is potentially fatal if not caught early.
At the moment only veterinary effective treatments fight lungworm so it's important you speak to your vet if you have any concerns.
Choosing which wormer to use
Some wormers bought from pet stores are effective against tapeworm and roundworm but make sure you check carefully what they actually treat.
At my veterinary surgery, we use a combination of worming tablets, spot-on treatments, collars and also combined flea, tick and lungworm tablets depending on the needs of the pet.
Going abroad this summer?
If you’re travelling abroad with your pet this summer it is important to take advice from your vet about the products to use to keep your pet safe from other parasites.
Worming your pet and minimising the risks of parasites is part of your responsibility as a pet owner to your cat or dog and the people around you.
Regularly deworming your pet helps to keep them healthy!