What are dog worms?

Roundworms, Tapeworms, Lungworms, Hookworms and Whipworms can all affect your dog and are a potential hazard to your family’s health.

Worm treatments do not have a preventative action - they only eliminate the worms present at the time of treatment. Regular dosing is necessary to keep your pet healthy and worm free and prevent them from contaminating the environment with eggs and the dose is dependent on the weight of your dog. It is therefore important for vets to weigh your dog regularly to ensure he is receiving the correct dose.

What are the symptoms?

Light infestations may go unnoticed in a healthy dog. With a heavy infestation, however, your dog may suffer vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, leading to loss of weight and condition. In addition, worms may weaken your dog’s immune system making it more susceptible to infection.

The migrating larvae of some worms can even cause lung damage, with consequent breathing problems.

Routes of Infection

  • Ingestion of worm eggs from the soil;
  • Ingestion of infected fleas;
  • Primary infection via placenta and mother’s milk.

Frequency of Worming

Puppies

Worming is recommended at 2, 5 and 8 weeks of age and monthly thereafter until your puppy is 6 months old. The vet or nurse will be able to advise you on the best product to use.
Worms and your dog

Adult Dogs

Adult dogs should be wormed every 3 months (4 times yearly). This is especially important in families with young children to reduce the risk of health problems. Infection with toxocara canis (the dog Roundworm) in children can be very serious, in rare cases even causing blindness.

Pregnant bitches

These should be wormed daily from day 40 of pregnancy until 2 days after whelping (giving birth) to prevent transfer via the placenta or via milk.

Treatments available

Granules (Roundworms and some Tapeworms)
Tasteless granules which can be mixed in with your dog’s food.

Tablets (Roundworms and Tapeworms)
To mix with your dog’s food or given directly by mouth. Please ask a veterinary nurse to do this free of charge if you find giving tablets difficult.

Injection (Tapeworms only)
In severe cases injections can be given to eliminate Tapeworms.

Spot on (Roundworms only)
One of the flea preparations used on the back of the neck also treats Roundworms.

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