Pet Advice
Worming
Worms Worms are a worry. Unlike fleas and ticks which are easily seen on your pet, you cant see intestinal worms. This makes it very easy for us to forget our pets need treatment. Out of sight, out of mind. Dogs and cats fall victim to several common intestinal worms. These parasites live in the digestive tract, robbing the dog/cat of vital nutrition. Alarmingly, around 80% of Australia’s dogs and 75% of cats carry intestinal worms. Symptoms of worm infestation [list] Anaemia Diarrhoea “Pot-belly” appearance (especially in puppies and kittens) Weight loss White segments in droppings, on the coat and around the anus Tail skidding Poor dull coat. [/list] The good news is you can take preventative action by worming your pet regularly. Worming is not a vaccine against future attacks. Dogs and cats can be reinfected from other pets and from the environment. We recommend the following worming regime: [table] [row]
After 6 months of age both cats and dogs should be treated at least every 3 months. Pregnant/lactating bitches/queens should be treated before mating, 10 days before whelping/kittening, then 2 and 4 weeks after whelping/kittening. Dogs in hydatid tapeworm areas need treatment every 6 weeks. The worming preparations we recommend are Drontal and Milbemax.
Tips to make treatment easier [list] Weigh your pet before treatment. Round the dosage up to the nearest half tablet. Ask us for complete dosage instructions. We offer a postcard reminder service to remind you when your pet is due for worming. [/list]