What can be done to prevent my animals from getting worms? Many intestinal worms in dog and cats are spread by their faeces/poo.It is very difficult to completely stop your animal getting worms, and so for this reason it is important to get your animal treated for worm on a regular basis to ensure that there is not a serious build up of parasites which can then go on to cause problems. Unlike a lot of medicines, the drugs used for worming don't tend to have a residual action - in other words a couple of days after an animal has been wormed, the drug will have gone and potentially the level of parasites can begin to build up again.
As a result of this, it is recommended that all animals are wormed every 3-4 months against both roundworms and tapeworms.
What can be done to reduce the risk of human problems associated with worms?
It must be stressed that human problems associated with worms are rare, but this does not mean that we should ignore them. Certain practices should be undertaken to help reduce the chance of any problems:
First and foremost, ensure that your animals are wormed regularly and with a suitable wormer
- Always wash hands after being in areas where dogs and cats have been (parks and gardens etc). This is especially so for children and the elderly.
- Always wash vegetables before cooking.
- Be responsible with animal faeces. Always try to pick up and dispose of animal faeces safely.
- Pregnant ladies should be extra-careful. Try to avoid picking up dog-mess or cleaning out cat litter trays.
What are the best wormers to use?There are a lot of worming drugs to choose from ranging from "over-the-counter" treatments to prescription only drugs. A lot of the non-prescription drugs are quite old, and therefore there is some resistance around. Also wormers may not treat all worms - i.e. you may be treating tapeworms without treating for roundworms. If in doubt you should always talk to a vet or veterinary nurse who will be able to advise you.
The prescription drugs are very effective and also come in a variety of forms that should help with the administration of the drug - often a big complaint with pet owners! These days wormers can be given as:
- Granules to mix into the food
- Liquid to mix into the food or squirt into the mouth
- Paste to mix into the food or squirt into the mouth
- Drops to be placed on the skin (this is particularly useful for naughty cats!)
Prescription drugs can only be obtained via your veterinary surgeon, and we are happy to supply them to you without the need for a specific consultation.
Please contact our repeat prescription service to obtain your worming treatment.