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
If I breed pedigree cats that have not been outside for generations and I haven’t had fleas amongst my cats for 10 years or more and I feed cooked chicken and fish and raw human grade beef mince besides commercial tinned cat food and kibble do I have to deworm? Will the queens have worms if dewormed as kittens and would their kittens have worms? I don’t like to medicate unless necessary.
I think in this situation it is very unlikely that you will have any worm problems – but you never can be completely sure so I would advise worming perhaps once a year. I would also worm the kittens at least once just to be on the safe side.
Hi Jo
Is an adult dog that does not ever scavenge or eat horrid things etc, stll as at risk of getting worms as any other? My little dog does not have any revolting habits, does not scrounge or eat anything other than her proper food, so I cannot see where she would pick up worms, apart from the very few that are always present? Thanks, Jacqui
Hi Jacqui,
Dogs can pick up worms from fleas (they eat the fleas and ingest the larvae) but generally will pick them up from the environment so even if your dog doesn’t obviously eat rodents or scrounge it is still likely that she would occasionally pick up worms. With dogs who aren’t at high risk like yours I would suggest worming once or twice a year should be fine.
Best wishes,
Joe
hi,
my tibetan spaniel/shih tzu recently had worms (tapeworms) we got him the right worming treatment and since not seen any thing in his stools, is this the only way to tell if they have gone or is any other ways we could look for at home?
thanks very much
If you have wormed him regularly then you shouldn’t need to worry too much unless you notice worm segments in his faeces. You can check with faecal worm egg counts via the vet but there is no need to do this if he is well and is being wormed regularly.