Britain likes to see itself as an animal-loving country. Recent studies have shown that millions of people enjoy the companionship of a cat or a dog; with that ownership though, is a responsibility to understand the health concerns of your animal. One of the most common problems afflicting domestic animals are worms and this is frequently caused by a lack of an efficient programme for worming dogs and cats on a regular basis.
How can I stop my dog or cat getting worms?
Unfortunately, there is no effective way of stopping any cat or dog getting worms. This is because roundworm and tapeworms are easily transmitted from animal to animal; often via soil or fleas as well as being ingested. There are a myriad of ways that even the most fastidiously cared-for pet can get worms.
What are the symptoms of worms in my animal?
If your animal is eating but is still undernourished, lacks energy and has a dull or lifeless coat, suffers from diarrhoea, vomiting or has lost weight, then this could be an indication of a severe worm infestation. Your cat or dog may also display other signs of an infestation, such as signs of worms in their faeces or their vomit or signs that their anus is irritating them, such as excessive cleaning in the case of cats, or dragging their bottom along the floor in the case of dogs, though some of these symptoms may not necessarily all mean your pet has worms.
It is important to note, however, that many infestations can also show no symptoms at all in the animal and that if you are not using dog or cat wormers on a regular basis, the odds are that your animal will likely have a worm infestation of some sort.
Can worms be effectively treated?
To effectively control and eliminate worm infestations in dogs, it is best to ensure that your canine friend is part of a regular dog worming routine. Once every three months for adult dogs, your animal should be administered a suitable treatment such as Drontal plus for dogs. This is a simple and easy way to ensure your animals are worm-free. A single dose of Drontal for dogs controls every type of intestinal worm that dogs are susceptible to, including tapeworm and roundworm.
In felines, Drontal for cats is another effective way of ridding your animal of these intestinal parasites. It too is administered in a single dose and should be used on a regular basis. Experts do suggest every three months or so is sufficient and will safeguard your pet from the debilitating and irritating effects of worms.
For kittens, there is a specific wormer, Drontal for kittens, which offers protection for young cats.
Do I need to worm puppies and nursing dogs?
The only change in the worming routine outlined above is for puppies and pregnant or nursing bitches. The stresses and strains of pregnancy often have an unwanted side effect of exacerbating any worm infestation in the mother dog. These parasites are then often transmitted to the puppies in the womb before they are born and experts estimate that 70 per cent of newly-born puppies in the UK suffer from some form of worm infestation.
For puppies, it is important they are wormed from the age of two weeks old and again every two weeks until they reach three months of age. Once they have reached 12 weeks, they can be wormed every three months as an adult dog, though owners should always keep an eye on their puppy’s health and watch for any signs of worm infestation, as roundworms can be particularly prevalent in animals of a young age.
For a nursing bitch, it is important that she is afforded similar protection as her litter and experts agree that it is sensible practice to worm the mother dog at the same time as her pups.
Why is dog and cat worming necessary?
There are several reasons why keeping your pet free from worms is necessary. Firstly, it is beneficial to their health and wellbeing and part of being a caring owner to avoid your animal suffering unduly. Secondly, it is important to control these parasites so that they do not infect other animals and lastly, it is also important to note that worms can be transferred to children and adults and cause health problems. It therefore makes sense to ensure your dog and cat worming routine is established once every three months to protect you and your furry friends from nasty internal parasites.
The information in this feature was supplied on behalf of The Pet Medicine Company
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