Puppies and kittens are very susceptible to contracting intestinal worms and should be treated from an early age. Worms can infest the intestines of animals and can be tiny or up to sizes of 18cm in length. Worms can potentially be fatal and have a detrimental effect on your pet. Worms can infest almost any species such as cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, birds, reptiles, fish and even humans. Animals that have a worm infestation will struggle to maintain weight and condition and often lose weight over time. They may suffer from anaemia and exhibit vomiting and diarrhoea. If untreated, worm infestations can lead to death, especially in vulnerable pets.
In Australia, common worms that infest pets include: Roundworm, Whipworm, Tapeworm and Hookworm. Controlling worms can be difficult as many worms spend part of their lifecycle outside of the pet. Prevention will need to include strategies to combat these parasites inside and outside the animal. As an example, tapeworms spend a part of their lifecycle in fleas. Flea control is imperative to stop the re-infection of tapeworm after treating the pet. A routine of worming your pet as well as reducing environmental contamination will help your pet to stay free of these parasites. Worming treatments include pastes, spot treatments and tablet. Ensure the environment is cleared as required and other treatments are put in to effect to combat re-infection of your pets. Humans can also pick up the parasite from the pet’s environment, so caution is advised.