How to protect your pet from worms

Unlike fleas, intestinal worms are rarely seen on your pet so it's hard to tell if your dog or cat has worms just by looking. The only way to know for sure is by microscopic examination of the faeces to detect the eggs. Left untreated, they can be a serious health risk for both your pet and family, which is why prevention is so important.

Protecting your pet from worms

Regularly providing your furry friend with a worming treatment such as a tablet or a spot-on treatment will help protect your pet from worms. Worming needs to be performed as a form of preventive health care whether worms are seen in droppings or not, as many worms are too small to be seen by the naked eye.

How often should I worm my pet?

To ensure your pets & family stay safe from worms, you should follow this worming schedule:

• From the age of 2 weeks, every second week until they are 12 weeks old
• Then, every month until they are six months old
• Then, depending on your pet’s parasite risk, you pet will require monthly worming (or a minimum of every three months), for life. Check out our handy guides to determine how often you should be worming your cat or dog

Note: Puppies and kittens are most at risk or worms during the first few months of life, so it is crucial to regularly worm them using products that are safely formulated for this stage of life.

Tips to prevent intestinal worms in pets

In addition to regularly worming your cat or dog, there are extra things you can do to keep your pet protected from intestinal worms:

• Control fleas on your pet (the most common tapeworm is passed on by fleas)
• Regularly pick up the stools in your backyard (should be daily)
• Annual wellness checks with your veterinarian
• Keep their kennel and other common areas clean
• Don't let your dog eat feaces
• Don't let your pet drink standing water, like puddles
• Prevent your dog from scavenging dead carcasses

Can I get worms from my pet?

It’s not only our pets that can contract worms – humans, too, can be infected. Roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms are varieties that humans can pick up from their pets, which have a number of health risks associated with them.

We get infected with roundworm if we accidentally ingest the worm eggs which can survive for several years in dirt in the environment. Children are especially susceptible to contracting roundworm for these reasons, so make sure to encourage their hand hygiene. Further, parasites like hookworm can pass from your pet to your family - as the larvae is able to pierce through your skin if you walk barefoot through contaminated soil. You can lower your family’s risk of becoming infected with these parasites by taking the following precautions:

• Wear shoes when walking outdoors, especially in areas where there may be faecal contamination in the soil, like dog parks
• Always pick up your pet’s poo right away
• Keep your kid’s play area away from your cat’s litter tray
• Properly cleaning and cooking food
• Wash raw vegetables well
• Practice proper handwashing
• Protect your yard and garden areas from neighbouring animals and cover any sandpits

Can an indoor pets get intestinal worms?

Yes, just because your cat or dog never leaves the house doesn’t mean that other members of your family aren’t coming in and out and unintentionally bringing nasties back with them. Worm eggs are microscopic and can easily attach to clothing and shoes - so make sure to remove or clean them before heading inside.

These squirmy freeloaders have lots of sneaky ways to catch a ride with your pet. Luckily, treatment for worms is simple and incredibly effective. However, worming is typically not a vaccine against future attacks, so regular treatment is essential to your pet’s health. There are many products available to protect your pet from worms - and now some have the dual purpose of treating flea, tick & worm infections at the same time.

For more advice on how to treat your pet for intestinal worms and how to prevent them from affecting your pet’s & family’s health, speak with your local Animates team or pop into your local Animates Vetcare clinic. Our knowledgeable store and clinic teams can make recommendations for worming treatments that you can do at home to keep your pet and family protected.