Worms
Worming is one of the first health issues pet owners need to address. Young animals are very susceptible to worm problems. Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines of your pet. These worms can grow up to 18cm long and can be deadly to your pet. They can also be responsible for health issues in humans.
Maintaining a routine worming treatment for your pets is crucial. It reduces the incidence of infection, environmental contamination and the risk of people becoming infected.
There are many worming treatments available for the various infections that occur in our pets. They are available as tablets, spot-ons, or pastes. Re-infection is a common problem, particularly in pets that are in contact with a heavily contaminated environment.
At Darwin Vets we can assist you in following a worming regime which will be most effective for your pet.
Worming Treatment
It is important to maintain a routine worming treatment for your pets. This will reduce the incidence of infection, environmental contamination and the risk of people becoming infected. There are many worming treatments available. They are available as tablets, spot-ons, or pastes. Re-infection is a common problem, particularly in pets that are in contact with a heavily contaminated environment (such as being on the ground or in the dirt).
Dog and Puppy Worming
In the Darwin Tropics, puppies require an intestinal all-wormer every fortnight from two weeks of age until they are four months old. After four months of age, use intestinal all-wormer monthly (perhaps every three months in the dry).
Cats and Kitten Worming
In the Darwin Tropics it is essential to worm kittens with an intestinal all-wormer every fortnight from one or two weeks of age until they are four months old. For cats over four months of age, use intestinal all-wormer regularly every month year round ideally. You might consider reducing this to every three months in the dry. It is generally sufficient to worm indoor cats every three months.
For cats and dogs that eat lizards and frogs a higher dose of tape-worming treatment is recommended every three months. Please ask us for advice on what worming regime is best for your pet.
In Darwin we see four main types of intestinal worms:
Roundworms cause diarrhoea, vomiting, coughing, blockages in the intestines, pot belly, poor coat condition and painful tummy.
Hookworms cause bloody diarrhoea, iron deficiency and low protein. Further blood loss causes anaemia and can be fatal.
Whipworms cause blood in stools, mucous diarrhoea, poor body condition, severe abdominal pain, fever and vomiting.
Tapeworms cause irritation around the anus (encouraging ‘scooting’), diarrhoea and poor growth. Most tapeworms are transmitted by eating fleas. They can be controlled by regular worming.
There is a less common tapeworm cats get from eating lizards and frogs. They become infected with the tapeworm Spirometra (or ‘Zipper worm’), that can cause intestinal upsets and vomiting. Control of this worm may require a higher dose of worming treatment every three months.
Intestinal worms can make your puppy very sick and in some cases (such as hookworms and heavy infestations) can be fatal.
Intestinal worms can also cause human health issues, by spreading from your pet to your family. Hookworm larvae can cause skin irritation; roundworm larvae can occasionally infect children and migrate in the body.
Some simple awareness strategies in handling your pet include:
Promptly clean up pet faeces (poop)
Keep your pet’s environment clean
Always dispose of faeces your pet leaves in parks and playgrounds
Prevent children from playing where the soil may be contaminated
Practise good hygiene, encourage children to wash their hands regularly