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Intestinal Worms

Protecting your dog against worms is as much a part of pet care as good diet and the right sort of exercise. Worms are important because they affect the condition of your pet and they can be unhealthy for you and your family. Two types of worms affect dogs: Roundworms and Tapeworms. Both are intestinal parasites, which can be found in any dog although infection is easily treated.

Puppies need worming at the following times:
* every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old
* every month from 12 weeks - 6 months old
* after 6 months every 3 months.

Roundworms:

dogworm

There are several kinds of roundworms including hookworms, whipworms and lungworms. But the most important and most common is called Toxocara. Virtually all puppies are born infected with Toxocara. They can also become infected from their mothers' milk or from their environment. In puppies, roundworm infestation can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, anaemia, a pot-bellied appearance and a failure to thrive. In most adult dogs the number of worms is few and as a result there are few clinical symptoms. Humans infected with roundworms, usually from ingesting contaminated soil (eggs take two weeks to become infective after being expelled in the dogs' faeces), can show respiratory, abdominal and eye problems, very rarely leading to blindness.

Tapeworms:

Heavy infestations can cause anal irritation, digestive disturbances and failure to grow. They are aesthetically unpleasant as the segments, which resemble cucumber seeds or rice grains leave via the anus to deposit their eggs. The most common tapeworm in dogs is Dipylidium caninum, which is contracted when the dog eats an infected flea. For obvious reasons vigorous steps to control any associated flea problems should accompany tapeworm therapy. Ingesting the eggs of a particular type of tapeworm can produce Hydatid disease, which can infect humans. This disease is largely confined to those areas where there is frequent contact between dogs and extensively grazed sheep, or where dogs are fed on uncooked horse meat, e.g. Hunt kennels. Hydatids have been all but eradicated in New Zealand.

For professional advice on the best products for your pet come in and have a chat.