WORMING YOUR PET

Are there many different types of worms?

There are a number of different types of worms that we need to think about in the UK. In particular we are concerned with roundworms, (which look like thin pieces of spaghetti), and tapeworms, (which look like little grains of rice).
If you are taking your pet abroad there is another worm we need to ensure your pet has appropriate treatment for. Please ask one of the vets for further information about this if your pet is due to leave the UK.

Why use worming products?

Worms cause disease in pets.

Most importantly some of these parasites can cause disease in people, in particular the roundworm.
Humans become infected by ingesting the worm eggs, symptoms can range from mild tummy ache to serious eye damage and sight loss. The majority of human cases pass unnoticed, but infections affecting the eyes although rare can obviously have serious consequences. There is, approximately, 1 new case of infections affecting the eyes every month in the UK. Children are particularly at risk when they play in soil and sand, or put their dirty fingers in their mouths.
This is why it is so important to worm pets regularly throughout their lives.

Do we need to worm puppies and kittens?

The majority of puppies are born infected with roundworms. The majority of kittens develop roundworm infections within hours of being born.
Therefore it is very important that puppies and kittens are wormed regularly against roundworms.
We strongly recommend that all puppies and kittens are wormed once a month with a product effective against roundworms until they are at least 6 months of age. The amount of wormer needed depends on each animals weight, so we recommend each puppy and kitten is weighed monthly to ensure an adequate amount of wormer is dispensed. Our nurses will be more than happy to make an appointment to weigh your pet, and provide the most appropriate worming product.

What about worming adult dogs and cats?

Worming medications have no residual activity - they kill the worms that are present, but do not stop your pet getting more worms in the future. So it is important to worm your pets regularly.

We recommend that dogs and cats are wormed every 3 months with a product effective against roundworms, more frequently (monthly), if they have access to public areas or live with children.
We recommend that dogs and cats are wormed every 3 - 6 months with a product effective against tapeworms. Tapeworms are carried by fleas, so good flea control will help reduce the exposure of your pet to these worms. Pets that eat raw meat, cats that hunt regularly, or dogs with access to farm land need worming against tapeworms every 3 months, whilst those pets who do not hunt or walk on farm land, or eat raw meat need tape-worming less frequently, especially if they have good flea control.
All of our vets can help assess your pet's requirements for worming against tapeworm.

Why is it better to use a worming product from a vet's than from a pet shop?

We aim to provide you with the most appropriate worm control for your pets needs, thereby ensuring good worm control throughout the year for all your pets, as easily as possible.
Our products are known to be effective, and simple to use.
Additionally, we can prescribe more modern products that are not available 'off the shelf'.
We are more than happy to help you with the administration of these products if necessary.
All our staff are more than happy to advise you on the best worm control for you and your pets. Please feel free to ask any of us any questions you may have.

What happens if I cannot give my pet a tablet?

There is no need to worry if you are unable to give your pet a tablet.
There are some products that combine both flea and roundworm treatments, which are spot-ons that are placed on the back of your pet's neck.
However, if your pet does need a tablet to ensure adequate worming, and you are not able to give it to your pet, then our nurses will be more than happy to arrange an appointment where they can administer the medication for you. Similarly, if your pet is being seen by one of the vets and needs a worming treatment please feel free to ask the vet to administer the tablet for you.