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Gastrointestinal Worms

It is estimated that four out of every five dogs, and three out of every four cats, carry gastrointestinal worms.

To help minimise the risk from gastrointestinal worms to both animals and owners alike, we recommend that dogs and cats should be given deworming medication to control gastrointestinal worms every three months (or every 6 weeks for dogs at risk of Hydatid tapeworm). For dogs, there are also combination medications which cover heartworm prevention as well as some of the gastrointestinal worms. Ask us for further information if you are interested in these.

As well as regular deworming, it is also important to maintain a hygienic environment to control gastrointestinal worms.

 

Gastrointestinal Worms and your Dog

Together with information about the most common gastrointestinal worms, we have also presented here an outline of our recommended worm control programme for dogs. We gratefully acknowledge Bayer (maker of Drontal® Allwormer tablets for dogs) for their permission to use the diagrams below.

Hookworms in dogs reach 5-19 cm in length and can infect animals from the environment. This occurs when they are ingested or penetrate the skin of paws and legs. They can also be transferred to pups through their mother's milk.

Hookworms cause a variety of clinical signs, including weight loss, poor appetite, bloated abdomen, black tar-like diarrhoea, dehydration, enteritis and lethargy. Severe infections can be fatal.

Roundworms reach 9-19 cm in length. They can infect dogs by ingestion, across the placenta, or be transferred to pups through their mother's milk.

Roundworms cause a variety of clinical signs, including coughing, diarrhoea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, pneumonia, a dull coat, and a swollen abdomen. Severe infections can be fatal.

Whipworms may reach 4-7 cm in length, and can only infect dogs when worms are swallowed.

Clinical signs include abdominal pain, anorexia, pale eyelids and gums, dehydration, smelly bloody diarrhoea and weight loss. Infection in adult dogs is generally not as serious as infection in puppies, which can be fatal.

The Common Flea Tapeworm grows to 50 cm in length, and infects dogs after ingestion of infected fleas.

This tapeworm causes irritation and itching around the anus but is not considered to be a major health risk.

The Hydatid Tapeworm grows to 7 mm in length, and is found in areas where sheep and dogs (or kangaroos and foxes) are in contact.

While this tapeworm does not cause significant clinical signs in dogs, infection of humans can be life-threatening. Humans contract hydatids by swallowing eggs found on the coats and in the faeces of infected dogs.

 

Control of Gastrointestinal Worms in your Dog
Regular de-worming of all dogs, including puppies and pregnant bitches, will minimise infestation of your pet and prevent infection of humans.

It is also important to maintain a hygienic environment:

  • Remove faeces from the yard and dispose of thoroughly
  • Clean sleeping areas regularly
  • Feed your dog quality cooked or tinned meat - no offal  
  • Always wash your hands after handling your pet and before eating, and remember that it is particularly important for children to be taught this!
  • Do not let pets lick your face
  • Use a complete flea control programme

 

De-worming your Dog
A wide variety of dog de-wormers are available from the Weston Creek Veterinary Hospital, including basic Allwormers and combination medications which also cover heartworm prevention and aid with flea control. Both palatable chews and tablets are available. (If you need a little help to give your dog pills, read our advice on the best method to give your dog tablet medication.)

Allwormer preparations should be given every three months to adult dogs, however, for dogs in Hydatid Tapeworm areas this should be done every six weeks. Pregnant or lactating bitches should be treated before mating, ten days before whelping, then two and four weeks after whelping. Pups should be de-wormed every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly until six months of age, then every three months as for adult dogs.

If you would like any advice on gastrointestinal worm control in your dog, please don't hesitate to give our hospital a call, or drop in and speak with one of our staff.

 

 

 

Gastrointestinal Worms and your Cat

Together with information about the most common gastrointestinal worms, we have also presented here an outline of our recommended worm control programme for cats. We gratefully acknowledge Bayer (maker of Drontal® Allwormer tablets for cats) for their permission to use the diagrams below.

Hookworms in cats may reach 7-12 mm in length and can infect animals from the environment. This occurs when worms are swallowed or penetrate through the skin.

Hookworms cause a variety of clinical signs, including weight loss, poor appetite, diarrhoea, lethargy and depression.

Roundworms may reach 10 cm in length, and can infect cats when worms are swallowed.

Roundworms cause a variety of clinical signs, including coughing, diarrhoea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, pneumonia, a dull coat and a swollen abdomen. Severe infections can be fatal.

Tapeworms may reach 50-60 cm in length. The Common Flea Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) infects cats after ingestion of infected fleas. The Taenia Tapeworm (Taenia taeniaeformis) infects cats after they eat infected rodents.

These tapeworms cause irritation and itching around the anus but are not considered to be a major health risk.

 

Control of Gastrointestinal Worms in your cat
Regular de-worming of all pets, including pregnant queens and kittens, will minimise infestation of your cat and help prevent infection of humans.

It is also important to maintain a hygienic environment:

  • Remove faeces from litter trays and children's sand pits and dispose of thoroughly
  • Clean sleeping areas regularly
  • Feed your cat quality cooked or tinned meat
  • Always wash your hands after handling your pet and before eating, and remember that it is particularly important for children to be taught this!
  • Do not let pets lick your face
  • Use a complete flea control programme, and control other intermediate hosts such as rats and mice

 

De-worming your cat
A wide variety of cat de-worming preparations are available from Weston Creek Veterinary Hospital, including basic allwormers and combination medications which incorporate heartworm prevention, flea control and ear mite control. (If you need a little help to give your cat pills, read our advice on the best method to give your cat tablet medication.)

Allwormer preparations should be given every three months to adult cats. Kittens should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age then monthly until 6 months of age, then every 3 months thereafter. If you would like any advice on gastrointestinal worm control in your cat, please don't hesitate to give our hospital a call, or drop in and speak to one of our staff.