There are a number of species of parasitic worms that commonly infect young pups and kittens. While some cause only mild disease and irritation, others can be fatal. Generally worm infections are acquired when a pup or kitten accidentally eats the microscopic eggs that are shed to the environment in the faeces of infected animals. However pups and kittens can also acquire infections from their mothers during gestation, with the result that they are born with a growing worm burden.
The most common intestinal worms we see in cats and dogs are:
- Hookworms
These worms attach to the lining of the intestine and feed on the puppy or kitten’s blood. If not controlled, severe and life threatening anaemia and diarrhoea can occur.
- Roundworms
These are large worms and their presence in the intestine can produce a pot bellied appearance and abdominal pain. Pups with heavy roundworm infections often fail to thrive.
- Whipworms
Dogs (but NOT cats) can suffer bloody diarrhoea from infection with these worms.
- Tapeworms
These long segmented flat worms are often seen as small moving white particles around a dog or cat’s anus. While they tend not to cause severe disease, they are quite irritating and dogs will often rub their bottoms on the ground to try to settle the itchiness. Fleas play a part in the tapeworm lifecycle, so the chance of infection is higher in animals with flea burdens.
We recommend the following intestinal worming schedule to guard against the development of disease associated with intestinal parasites and to reduce the degree of environmental contamination with their eggs:
Puppies and Kittens
- Start routine intestinal worming treatments at 2 weeks of age
- Repeat preventative treatment every 2 weeks until 16wks of age
- Repeat preventative treatment monthly from 16wks (4mths) to 6mths of age.
Adult cats and dogs
- Give preventative treatment every 3 months for life