Worms in dogs and cats

05.JUNE.09

Can Roundworms and Hookworms infect people?

Yes. These infections, like others acquired from animals are called zoonotic infections or zoonoses. You owe it to yourself or your family to find out about these zoonotic infections, and learn how to prevent them.{{more}}

Take steps to prevent roundworm and hookworm infection.

Have puppies and kittens dewormed by your vet at an early age.

Start or keep your pets on preventative deworming programme that treats and controls these worms.

Learn to recognize and avoid possibly contaminated soil, sand, plants, and other objects. Teach children to do the same.

Keep play areas, lawns, and gardens around your home free of animal waste.

Adequately dispose of pet faeces.

Worms that infect pets.

What are roundworms and hookworms?

You may already have heard that worms often infect puppies and kittens as well as older pets. The most common types of these parasitic worms are roundworms and hookworms. They are both intestinal parasites. They live and grow inside the intestines of your pet. Roundworms and hookworms develop from eggs into larvae (immature worms). The larvae later mature into adult worms.

Most pets show no signs of infection. However, some do. Signs may include vomiting, loss of appetite, or severe weight loss, varying degrees of anemia (pale mucus membranes). Heavy infestation in young puppies and kittens may be fatal.

Hookworms have teeth-like structures or cutting plates with they use to attach themselves to the wall of the intestines (gut) and feed on the animal’s blood.

How do pets get worms?

Dogs and cats of any age may get roundworms and hookworms, but they are most vulnerable when they are very young. In fact, it is not unusual for puppies of only 2-3 weeks of age to harbor a significant number of worms. That’s because these worms are often passed from the mother to her puppies before birth.

Worms lay eggs in the intestines of dogs and cats and they are passed out in the faeces either as eggs or larvae. These in turn may contaminate food and water and are ingested (eaten) by other dogs, cats, kittens or puppies thus infecting them.

How to deworm your pets.

Please note here that a deworming programme should be done on the advice of a Veterinarian. Everyday, we meet people who claim to have had their animals dewormed. On further investigation, we realize that often time the medications that are used are not effective for a certain type of worms or the dose recommended is inadequate or too strong, leading to signs of poisoning.

For further information, contact:

Dr. Collin Boyle

Unique Animal Care Co. Ltd.

Tele: 456 4981

Website: www.uniqueanimalcare.com