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Worm Control
and Treatment for Dogs |
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Damson House Veterinary Clinic |
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Could my dog have worms? Any dog,
however well cared for, can get worms. When you take your dog for a walk,
there is nothing he likes better than to sniff around, especially where other
dogs have been . Worm eggs can be swallowed by your dog when he grooms his
paws and coat, and can even be carried on your shoes and clothing. Why worry? Although
in mild cases, the worm infection may not cause any signs of disease, heavier
infections can cause general loss of condition, dry coat, anaemia and even
death in very young puppies. Some dog worms can also infect people, young
children are particularly at risk. Toddlers may cuddle and stroke your dog or
they may play in infected sandpits. Where do the worms come from? There are 2 types of worms that we
see commonly in our pet dogs, tapeworms and roundworms. TAPEWORMS: There
are 2 groups of tapeworms that occur in dogs in the U.K. Dipylidium caninum
is carried by fleas. The dog becomes infected by swallowing fleas when he
grooms himself , and 3 weeks later there will be adult tapeworms in his
intestine. Taenia, Multiceps and Echinococcus spp. are all tapeworms. Your
dog can become infected by eating small mammals such as mice and rabbits, or
by eating raw offal from animals such as sheep and cattle. If your dog has a
tapeworm infection, you may see the worm segments around its anus. They look
a bit like rice grains. ROUNDWORMS: A puppy can become infected from its mother across the placenta while it
is still in the womb , or through the milk, or from its littermates. This is
why it is so important to worm puppies and pregnant bitches thoroughly.
Sometimes we see roundworm infections in adult dogs which have carried the
worm larvae since puppyhood. Adult dogs can also become infected by eating
rats and mice or simply by sniffing where other dogs have been. Occasionally
we also see lungworm infections in adult dogs which they can get from eating
rats,mice,birds and slugs or snails. If your dog is infected with roundworms,
you will sometimes see them either being vomited up or in the faeces. They
look a bit like white earthworms. What can I do about it? Much of the time, there are no
obvious signs that your dog is infected with worms, so it is best to worm
routinely to prevent build up of large numbers of worms. Many wormers
available on general sale are not very effective, difficult to give and can
be dangerous if overdosed. We have chosen wormers which are highly effective
and extremely safe to use, even in very young, pregnant or nursing animals,
and that are effective against both round and tapeworms. PUPPIES Most puppies
will have some roundworms which they get from their mother's milk or while
they are still in the womb. We use GRANOFEN granules which can be given mixed
in food. Worming can start as soon as the puppy is weaned, and we recommend
WORMING MONTHLY to 6 months of age. GRANOFEN is effective against all the
roundworms and some tapeworms. If you see tapeworms or if your puppy has had
fleas, it is advisable to use DRONTAL PLUS tablets instead of GRANOFEN.
Please ask for advice if you are unsure. ADULT DOGS We use DRONTAL PLUS as a
routine treatment twice yearly. If your dog is a scavenger or eats rodents,
birds , snails or slugs, it is a good idea to worm him more frequently
-preferably 4 times a year. If you see tapeworms on your dog, we recommend
using a flea treatment as well. PREGNANT + NURSING BITCHES We advise worming
pregnant and nursing bitches at 3 week intervals with GRANOFEN to decrease
the transmission of worms to the puppies. It is important to remember that
although these worm preparations will clear the worms from your dog's system,
they will not prevent him from picking up worms again. Therefore repeated
worming is very important. |
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Damson House Veterinary Clinic 82 Damson Lane, Solihull, West Midlands. B92 9JP Tel.
0121 711 3775 |
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Services |