This information page is not designed to replace more detailed descriptions of worm life cycles, or the pharmacology of the various worm preparations available. What it will do is to give an overview of the common types of worm that may infect your pet and show you the effectiveness of common drugs against the different types of worms, allowing you to plan an effective worm control programme for you pet. Please feel free to ask us for further advice, or phone the surgerie. For prescrition medicine always follow the dispensing instruction. If using over the counter medicine please be sure to weigh your pet properly.
RoundWorms
Amoung the roundworm affecting domestic animals, there are three types capable of causing significant disease in poeples:
- Toxocara canis in dogs
- Toxocara felis in cats
- Toxascaris leonina in both dogs and cats.
The eggs are passed in faeces, and are swallowed when your pet grooms. Pups are infected in the uterus, and from their mother's milk. All of these may cause symptoms ranging from vague ill health in adults, to severe intestinal disease in pups or kittens.
TapeWorms
The characteristic feature of tapeworm life cycles is the involvement of an intermediate host. This can be either mammals (Taenia and Hymenolepis species) or fleas (Dipylidium).
Taenia - these tapeworms form cysts in the muscles of mostly mammals, which hatch out and cause infection when your pet eats the raw flesh. For example undercooked beef or pork, or small rodents. It is unusual to see segments in the animals faeces, but in advanced infections whole sections of worm may be passed or vomited up.
Dipylidium - the intermediate stage of this tapeworm is generally the flea, and is transmitted when your pet is grooming itself. You pet does not have to be infested with fleas, one will be enough! This is the commonest tapeworm, and segments will be seen as looking like grains of rice or small white segments stuck to the hairs around the tail.
Public Health
The worm eggs will not cause intestinal infestation in people, but in very rare cases larvae may cause problems by migrating from the intestine to the eye or brain. Responsible pet owners can minimise this risk of infection with the use of poop-scoops, and regular treatment with an effective wormer.
When To Treat
Please do not wait until you see signs, most adult cats and dogs with worm infestations do not pass worms in their faeces, even when they are passing worm eggs.We advise all kittens and puppies should be dosed for roundworm every 4 weeks, from 6 weeks to six months of age with a good wormer. It is usually only necessary to treat pups & kittens for roundworm.
Adult cats and dogs should be treated according to their worm exposure. This could be monthly if your pet visits areas popular with other animals, but is usually every 3 months for the average pet and should always at least be done a minimum of every 6 months. It is usually only necessary to treat for roundworms, but the choice of drug will depend upon likely exposure to the various types of worms. We always recommend a broad spectrum wormer to be given after any case of persistent intestinal disease.
Which Drug to Use
There is a range of drugs available, with varying efficacy and cost.
EFFICACY of some common wormers against common worms
Product : Various Generics and OTC preparations
Drug name : Piperazine (Citrate or Adipate)
Palatability : +++
Tapeworms : None
Roundworms : 60-85%
Lungworms : None
Product : Panacur
Drug name : Fenbendazole
Palatability : + to +++ depending on preparation, liquid, paste, tablet or granules mixed with food
Tapeworms : Taenia only
Roundworms : ~95%
Lungworms : ~95%
Product : Drontal Plus (Dogs) & Drontal Cat
Drug name : Pyrantel & Praziquantel [main constituents]
Palatability : often fine in dogs more difficult in cats
Tapeworms : 100% in single dose
Roundworms : 95-99% in single dose
Lungworms : None
Product : Stronghold
Drug name : Selamectin
Palatability : N/A, this product is a "spot-on" applied on the skin
Tapeworms : None
Roundworms : ~95% Toxocara
Lungworms : None
Please feel free to ask for advice if you are unsure which drug to use. Explaining things is part of the job. We also have more detailed information available at the surgery if you would like to know more about worm control.
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