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| Worms |
The only worms most people ever see are earthworms - harmless creatures which actually do a bit of good in the garden.
But right there in the same garden, there could be the eggs or larvae of some very different worms - far from harmless, and quite capable of doing serious damage to the health of your pet and your family!
You would rarely see these worms, of course, because they spend their whole adult lives inside your dog or cat's intestines, feeding off their blood and the food that they eat.
There are around a dozen different species of intestinal worms that can infect cats and dogs in the UK. Some are only a few millimetres long, others can grow to a staggering 5 metres in length (and if that makes you squirm, imagine how your pet must feel!) Some live off the contents of the gut (in effect, scavenging the animal's food) while others attach themselves to the gut wall and live off the animal's blood. And worst of all, some can infect people as well as pets - which is probably the best reason of all to keep your pet worm-free.
Symptoms to look for: It’s not always easy to determine whether a dog is infected with worms. The most obvious sign is “scooting” – that is, dragging its bottom along the ground. This may indicate tapeworm infection. The dog does it because the egg filled segments shed by the mature tapeworms are expelled via the anus and irritate the dog's bottom. To avoid worms reaching maturity and affecting your pet's health, and to reduce public health risks, you should worm your pet regularly. Worming every 3 months will reduce this risk, but your vet will be able to evaluate your pet's and your family's requirements and advise you on a specific worming routine.
Heavy roundworm infections may cause a distended stomach – particularly noticeable in puppies. And almost any type of intestinal worm can cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
In general, though, by the time symptoms are visible, the worms have reached maturity, and are already damaging your dog’s health. That’s why it’s far better to follow veterinary advice on a specific worming routine, before the symptoms become obvious.
Find out more about the causes of worm infection and the different types of worm by clicking on the links below:
Causes Roundworms Tapeworms Others