Intestinal Worms

There are two broad categories of worms that may affect our pet dogs and cats, intestinal worms and heartworms.  

Please see our heartworm page for more information.

What are intestinal worms & who do they effect?

Worming is one of the first health care issues pet owners need to address as pups and kittens are the most susceptible. As their name suggests, intestinal worms are parasites that live inside your pet’s intestines. Common intestinal worms in Australian pets include roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and tapeworm.  These worms range in size from small to surprisingly large (up to 18cm in length). Regardless of their size however, they all have negative, and potentially deadly effects. 

It's important to note that most species can be infected with intestinal worms including humans.  Another very important reason to worm your pets is to protect your family; as children in particular can become infected with certain dog and cat worms. 

 

Important intestinal worms that can affect Australian dogs are:

Roundworm

Tapeworm

Whipworm

Hookworm

How do I know if my pet has intestinal worms?

Some of the most common signs with worm infestations is poor coat condition, weight loss, big bloated belly, diarrhoea, vomiting, and anaemia.  If left long enough, some can form an intussusception.  This is where the pet is trying to push the worms out and as a result, part of the intestines can telescope over another area of intestines (as seen below).  This results in a block where the intestines become unhappy, requiring emergency surgery. 

How can I prevent infestations?

Worms sometimes have complex life cycles which involve a period of existence and development outside your pet. Understanding the life cycle of a specific worm is important for implementing the correct treatment and prevention.  For instance, some tapeworms need to pass through fleas to complete their life cycle, so flea prevention is an important method of controlling tapeworms.

It is important to maintain a routine worming treatment for your pets, to reduce the incidence of infection and to reduce environmental contamination. There are many worming treatments available for the various worm infections that occur in our pets. These are available as tablets, spot-ons, or pastes. 

Re-infection is a common problem, particularly in pets that are in contact with a heavily contaminated environment.

Below are some tips to minimise worm infestations in your pet and their environment:

  • Promptly clean up pet faeces.
  • Practice good hygiene, always encourage children to wash their hands regularly (especially after playing in dirt or sandpits, playing with pets or prior to eating)
  • Prevent children from playing where the soil may be contaminated
  • Keep your pet's environment clean
  • Always dispose of dog faeces when visiting public parks and playgrounds

How often should I worm my pet?

This will depend on a number of factors:

  1.  How old is your pet?
  2.  When were they lasted wormed?
  3.  What product was used?
  4. How much were they given?  

These questions are important since puppies and kittens need to be wormed more regularly to ensure they are protected.  Multiple times we have heard the phrase "Yes, they have been wormed" but when asked which product they were using, we find out this one does not protect against intestinal worms.  Another important factor is checking the dose to ensure they are given the right amount.  Before giving a worming product, we recommend weighing your pet to ensure the right dose is administered. 

Please call us to discuss which intestinal worming program is suitable for your pet.