Pet Health, Interesting Facts, and Trivia
Worming Information

Worming Information

Many pets have parasites (worms) of various varieties; especially pets who live in close quarters with others or who roam free where they can pick up parasites from feral or other animals.

Many internal parasites have intermediate hosts: animals or insects who ingest or in some way harbor the early stages of parasite development and then pass the parasite to your dog or cat. Tape worms are carried by fleas, and heartworms are carried by mosquitoes.

When is the best time to worm pets?

Many breeders routinely worm puppies and kittens at 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age with mild roundworm wormers. Bitches and Queens are wormed prior to breeding and after giving birth.

Since most wormers cannot be relied upon to prevent re-infection or to remove larvae that are either not present in the intestinal tract at the time of initial treatment or not in a treatable stage of development at that time, it is recommended that (in most cases) worming be done in two treatments, 2 weeks apart.

Round Worms

Round worms are the most common type of worms nation-wide. Although they can be life-threatening, they are usually not considered as dangerous as hook worms which can cause bloody diareah, dehydration, and loss of blood. Hook worms are especially common in warm, moist climates. Both are transmitted through fecal material, so it is very important to keep kennels and yards clean. Whip worms are less common but can also be serious.

Tape Worms

Tape worms might be THE most common worms (transmittted through ingestion of a flea). Until now they have been difficult to treat using home-administered treatments, and a visit to your veterinarian was in order. However, there are now effective treatments available over the counter containing praziquantel. (Search our web site for "tapeworms").

Determining the Presence of Worms

To be certain exactly which types of worms (if any) your pets may be harboring, a fecal exam should be performed. If you are not capable of this operation, visit your veterinarian and ask him/her to check. Take a fresh stool sample with you..

Heartworms

Heartworms are carried by mosquitoes. They are an insideous insult to the heart, circulatory system, lungs, and kidneys of infected dogs. If a dog has an active case of heartworms, taking a heartworm preventative such as Heartguard, Interceptor or Sentinel could be fatal. For this reason, heartworm medications are by prescription only and require a blood test annually.