Beaphar

Worms, Worms, Worms!

Facts about worms 
Worms are disgusting, unhygienic, and unhealthy - exactly the reasons why a strict worming regime should be carried out. Although a problem such as worms is a fact of life, in a survey carried out by Beaphar's, 54% of dog owners and 59% of cat owners stated that they had neither bought nor used wormers on their pets, even though simple, highly effective, and easy-to-use treatments are available from their local pet shop, garden centre, or Veterinary Surgeon. Many articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines concerning worms. Unfortunately, despite their good intent, many have caused unnecessary concern on this subject. Beaphar has an in-depth knowledge of worms, and this information page is designed to give you a better understanding of what happens when your animal has worms, and how best to treat for them. Firstly, worms can be generalised into two categories - roundworms and tapeworms. Both can be extremely unpleasant for pets - and their owners - should they inadvertently come across them!

Roundworms in Dogs
The most important roundworm in dogs to consider is Toxocara canis. These worms can be several inches in length and they have round bodies - similar to tiny earthworms. They tend to be of a whitish or pinkish brown colour due to ingested material.

Their life cycle depends very much on the age of the animal. In puppies, the bitch has already passed on worm larvae, either via the placenta or through the milk. However, worm eggs can also be picked up from the garden, or public places, having been deposited in the faeces of other dogs, and these eggs pass through to the intestines where they hatch into tiny larvae. Larvae migrate through the wall of the intestines, enter the bloodstream, and then travel to the liver. They stay in the liver for a few days and then travel back into the bloodstream, through the heart and end up in the puppy's lungs. Here they cause tickling and are coughed up, but as dogs rarely spit they are swallowed and so end up in the intestines again.
At this point they mature into adults, start laying eggs, which are passed out in the faeces, and the cycle begins all over again. In older dogs the roundworm life cycle is slightly different because of a developing immunity to worms. Larvae reach the liver but are then diverted into the muscles of the animal, where the body forms harmless, very small, cysts around them. These cysts can lay dormant in the muscles for many years, causing no problem at all for the dog.
However, if a bitch is infected in this way, and later she becomes pregnant, the natural hormonal changes of pregnancy allow the release of larvae from this dormant state, leaving them free to migrate around the body once more. They are then able to infect her developing puppies through the placenta before birth.
Virtually all puppies are born with worms. This is an unavoidable fact of life. Consequently, puppies have to be wormed frequently for roundworm infestations.
There have been reports in the media that Toxocara canis can cause blindness in children. This problem is extremely rare. Although the roundworm cannot complete its life cycle in humans, ingested eggs can occasionally cause serious conditions in children. They hatch into larvae in the gut and then migrate to various organs of the body, including the liver, lungs, eyes and brains, where they can become permanently encysted. It is therefore of greatest importance to see that puppies, particularly if in contact with children, are kept free from worms, and that a good standard of hygiene is maintained. The dog's faeces should be cleared away as soon as possible from gardens, exercise runs, and parks to prevent the ground becoming heavily contaminated with worm eggs, which can lay dormant in the topsoil for several years. Eggs in fresh faeces are not infective (they take about two weeks to develop on the grass), so you are not at danger when scooping those poops.

Roundworms in Cats
The most prevalent roundworm in cats is Toxocara cati. These worms are very similar in appearance to Toxocara canis, but their life cycles are much simpler. The adult worm may be passed in the faeces but because of the cat's clean habits, the worms are not easily detected. They may be vomited and it is not uncommon for an adult cat to expel a single large worm when regurgitating hair. Worm eggs ingested by the cat hatch out as larvae in the intestines. They then pass through the gut wall and migrate to the liver, heart, and lungs. Here they cause tickling and are coughed up, but because cats, as with dogs, rarely spit they are swallowed and so end up in the intestines again. At this point they mature into adults, start laying eggs, which are passed out in the faeces, and the cycle begins all over again.
Worm larvae can also be found in other creatures, e.g. mice, which have eaten the eggs. If a cat eats an infected mouse, these larvae then develop into adult worms in the cat's intestines. Young kittens can be infected either by ingesting eggs or by ingesting larvae that have passed through the mother's milk. Infection before birth does not happen in cats, however, as it does with dogs.

Tapeworms
There are two main types of tapeworm that affect dogs and cats - Taenia and Dipylidium species, and these are often found in adult animals. They are so-called due to their resemblance to a tape measure. They are flat worms, composed of many individual segments.
Tapeworms (Taenia Spp.)
We will concentrate on Dipylidium as this is the most common tapeworm in dogs and cats, and is easily recognisable by the oval segments passed in the faeces (often described as "grains of rice").
The intermediate host of Dipylidium caninum is the flea. When your pet grooms itself it will inadvertently swallow the flea, the exoskeleton of which is broken down by stomach acids.
The worm, once inside the animal, grows into a tape and attaches itself to the intestine, where it remains until it is mature. It then begins to shed the characteristic oval segments, containing microscopic eggs, which are passed out in the faeces. Once out in the environment these segments dry out and the eggs are expelled, leaving them free to be eaten by flea larvae, and the cycle is repeated. Tapeworms can grow to quite a few centimetres in length, and a single cat or dog may be carrying hundreds. Although the adult worm does little damage to its host, the egg cases, which are still moving when passed, can cause irritation to the pet's anus, and are most unpleasant to watch, and very uncomfortable for your pet!
Taenia tapeworms are caught by animals that hunt or scavenge, as they are carried by rodents, rabbits, sheep, etc. They can grow to lengths of up to 5m in the intestines.

Treatment and prevention of worms
Well, there are three main points to note:

1. Clear up after your pet
When taking your dog for a walk, take a "Whoopsie-Bag" with you. There are thousands of roundworm eggs lying dormant in parks, etc. This is a source of re-infestation for dogs, and very occasionally causes problems for children. The same applies with your cat, although this may be slightly more difficult as they tend to bury their excrement. However, keep gardens and litter trays free of faeces if possible, to prevent reinfection.

2. Carry out flea treatments routinely
The main carrier of tapeworms is the flea, as previously mentioned. Therefore, the less fleas you have in your home, the less chance of tapeworm burdens. For further information on fleas and flea treatments, visit www.beaphar.com

3. Worm regularly
Puppies and kittens should be wormed from 2 weeks of age, and then every 2 weeks until the age of 12 weeks, then at 16 weeks and 20 weeks, and thereafter every 3 months. Adult dogs and cats should be wormed every three months.

And worming has never been easier!

For puppies and kittens, Beaphar's produce Worming Cream and Worming Syrup, both of which are very easily administered. Worming Cream comes in an easy-to-use syringe, and the Syrup is dispensed via a pump. These preparations can be given to young animals from two weeks of age, with a minimum of fuss, and ensure that there is no waste.

From weaning onwards, the award-winning Beaphar's One Dose Wormer is recommended for the treatment of both roundworm and tapeworm in dogs, and is very easy to use. You simply dose the dog on one day only, using a small number of tablets. This particular active ingredient has been used by Veterinary Surgeons under a different brand name for over twenty years, and is thus a well-established, tried and tested product. The product comes in four different pack sizes, to suit all breeds of dog.
For cats over 6 months of age use Beaphar's Worming Granules for Cats for a no-nonsense solution to routine worming. This active ingredient has also been used by Veterinary Surgeons under a different brand name for many years, and is thus also a well-established, tried and tested product.

Other wormers in the Beaphar's range include:
Multiwormer for Dogs - a three-week treatment for both roundworm and tapeworm.
Multiwormer for Dogs Big Breed pack - a variation on the above with extra tablets for the bigger breeds of dog.
Multiwormer for Cats - a three-week treatment for both roundworm and tapeworm.














If you are still concerned about any aspect of worm control, speak to your local pet shop or Veterinary Surgeon. Alternatively, you can contact Beaphar's direct on Freephone 0800 917 4418, where our team of experts are waiting to assist you.