The idea of worms living inside your pet’s stomach is not very pleasant to think about, but unfortunately intestinal worms such as tapeworms and roundworms are very common and most pets will have had worms at some point in their lives. Like fleas, worms can cause health problems for pets, including weight loss, poor condition and skin problems, but more seriously, one species of worm can also pose a very real health risk to people and children in particular.
The roundworm toxocara canis, which is most commonly found in puppies, can cause serious health complications in children including blindness if the larvae of the worms damage the eyes which can happen in rare cases. Therefore it treating worms is not just essential for the wellbeing of your pets, it’s also crucial for the health and safety of our children.
Thankfully preventing and treating worms has never been easier thanks to modern worming preparations, and there is no excuse for all pet owners not to be keeping their pets – and their families – safe from worms.
- Worm puppies and kittens every 2 weeks – this is the period when roundworms are most prevalent and they are passed across the placenta and in the milk from the mother so it is crucial to worm regularly at this time
- Worm adult dogs and cats at least every 3months – this is the generally accepted minimum interval for dogs and cats, but you should worm monthly if your cats are regular hunters as this is one of the main sources of worms, or if your dogs live very active outdoor lifestyles
- Use good quality wormers – just like with fleas you get what you pay for and cheap wormers from pet shops are likely to be ineffective
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