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Dog Worming
Dog
Worming. Not only can worms make your dog sick, some species
of worms can also be transferred to humans, eek!, with children being
most at risk. Adult dogs should be wormed every 3 months.
The table
below show the different types of worms:
Hookworms
In dogs reach 5-19 cm in length and can infect animals from
the environment. This occurs when they are ingested or penetrate
the skin of paws and legs. They can also be transferred to
pups through their mother's milk.
Hookworms cause a variety of clinical signs, including weight
loss, poor appetite, bloated abdomen, black tar-like diarrhoea,
dehydration, enteritis and lethargy. Severe infections can
be fatal. |
Roundworms
Reach 9-19 cm in length. They can infect dogs by ingestion,
across the placenta, or be transferred to pups through their
mother's milk.
Roundworms cause a variety of clinical signs, including coughing,
diarrhoea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, pneumonia, a dull
coat, and a swollen abdomen. Severe infections can be fatal. |
Whipworms
May reach 4-7 cm in length, and can only infect dogs when
worms are swallowed.
Clinical signs include abdominal pain, anorexia, pale eyelids
and gums, dehydration, smelly bloody diarrhoea and weight
loss. Infection in adult dogs is generally not as serious
as infection in puppies, which can be fatal. |
The Common Flea
Tapeworm
Grows to 50 cm in length, and infects dogs after ingestion
of infected fleas.
This tapeworm causes irritation and itching around the anus
but is not considered to be a major health risk. |
The Hydatid Tapeworm
Grows to 7 mm in length, and is found in areas where sheep
and dogs (or foxes) are in contact.
While this tapeworm does not cause significant clinical signs
in dogs, infection of humans can be life-threatening. Humans
contract hydatids by swallowing eggs found on the coats and
in the faeces of infected dogs. |
Controlling
Worms
Regular de-worming of all dogs, including puppies and pregnant bitches,
will minimise infestation of your pet and prevent infection of humans.
It
is also important to maintain a hygienic environment:
- Remove
faeces from litter trays and children's sand pits and dispose
of thoroughly
- Clean
sleeping areas regularly
- Feed
your dog quality cooked or tinned meat - no offal
- Always
wash your hands after handling your pet and before eating, and
remember that it is particularly important for children to be
taught this!
- Do
not let pets lick your face
- Use
a complete flea control programme
De-worming
Your Dog
A wide variety
of dog de-wormers are available including basic multi-wormers and combination
medications which also help with flea control. Both palatable chews
and tablets are available.
Multi-wormer preparations
should be given every three months to adult dogs. Pregnant or lactating
bitches should be treated before mating, ten days before whelping,
then two and four weeks after whelping. Pups should be de-wormed
at two, four, six, eight and twelve weeks of age, then monthly until
six months of age, then every three months as for adult dogs.
Buy Drontal Dog Wormer from Dogs.Info
Drontal Plus dog wormer controls all roundworms and tapeworms found in the UK in a single dose. It can be given with or without food and there is no need to change the pets' feeding regime.
ONE DOSE EVERY 3 MONTHS
Give 1 tablet per 10kg (22lbs) bodyweight. The tablets can be given directly to the dog or disguised in food. No starvation is needed before, or after treatment.
BODYWEIGHT TABLET Puppies and Small Dogs 0.5-2kg quarter 2-5kg 0.5 (half) 6-10kg 1
Medium Dogs 11-15kg 1.5 16-20kg 2 21-25kg 2.5 26-30kg 3
Large Dogs 31-35kg 3.5 36-40kg 4
For the control of Toxocara, nursing bitches should be dosed 2 weeks after giving birth and every two weeks until weaning. Puppies should be treated at 2 weeks of age and every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age. Thereafter, they should be treated at 3 month intervals.
Also Available Drontal XL for large breeds & Drontal Puppy Suspension
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