Worm facts and why you should worm your pets
Roundworm or Toxocara canis
wThis worm is seen in young dogs and cats and looks like spaghetti. Your pet can get it by eating an infected animal such as a rat or it passes from the infected mother to its young.
wInfested dogs may have a rough coat, bloated belly, vomiting, diarrhoea and colic.
wRoundworms can be more of a problem in humans than originally thought. Toxocara is the most prevalent worm in the UK. It can be a public health risk as the larval form is able to penetrate human skin and migrate to various organs in our body including the eye. It may cause granulomas in the human eye.
wNeurologic toxocariasis is where the larvae migrate to the brain and cause seizures or learning difficulties in children.
wSoil surverys have shown that 10-20% of gardens contain Toxocara eggs and nearly 25% of school playgrounds. The eggs are sticky and carried by shoes or clothes and about 7% of dogs and cats in the UK can be shedding eggs. NHS direct warns that London parks are so widely contaminated with Toxocara eggs, that soil samples taken from nearly anywhere within those grounds are positive!
Hookworm or Ancylostoma caninum
wIt attaches to a dog's intestine leaving bleeding wounds and can cause diarrhoea and anaemia (a very pale puppy).
Whipworm or Trichuris vulpis
wWhipworm is one of the most difficult parasites to eradicate and these more commonly affect older dogs. They develop symptoms such as colitis (jelly-like diarrhoea) and decreased appetite.
Heartworm or Dirofilaria immitis
wThis worm is thankfully NOT seen in the UK, but dogs travelling to places like Europe or Canada which fall under the pets passport scheme, require treatment for it.
Tapeworm - Taenia spp or Dipylidium spp
wTapeworm are the second most common worm in the UK. Your pet can be infected by eating a live flea or by eating an infected small animal such as a rat. It rarely causes problems in pets but is seen most frequently by owners.
wYour pet may have what appear to be 'rice grains' around their bottom. Good flea treatment is important to prevent this parasite.
wOther preventative measures involve removing any faeces that your pet has produced in a public place and obviously from your garden as soon as it is produced. Prevent your pet from eating small rodents and earthworms that can carry roundworm.
wControl fleas to prevent tapeworm and deworm any female pets before breeding and again after whelping to prevent infection of newborn pets. To prevent human infestation of roundworms, ensure that you practise good hygiene before eating.
wI do advise buying good quality wormers and flea products such as Drontal or Milbemax. These can be purchased from online pharmacies as shown in a previous newsletter.
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