Keep our furry friends free of worms

We’re all enjoying the chance to exercise right now and onewet morning on my daily walk recently I noticed a large worm sort of exercising, but actually struggling to get across the wet concrete path back to the safety of the grass.

Worms are unique and are also a frequent presence in my day. So, I thought it would be helpful to simplify what can be a confusing subject, even more sowith the choice of drops, chews and tablets available to keep our furry friends free of these wiggling things.

Two main categories ofworms afflict our friends. This is really important because many of the products available in New Zealand are made to also treat aworm we luckily haven’t got here – heartworm. It’s yet another nasty in the large island off to the left. The first category is tapeworm. These worms live in the gut. Segments of the long, flat ribbonlike worm break off and are passed in faeces, and can be seen as small ‘‘rice grains’’ around the anal area of an infected cat.

These segments drop to the ground and release eggs that are eaten by flea larvae. These larvae mature to become adult fleas with immature tapeworms inside them. Cats or dogs are re-infected with tapeworm by eating these fleas when grooming.

That life cycle is important because to control or eliminate tapeworm takes a two-pronged approach involving flea treatment and worm treatment.

Therewas another type of tapeworm in New Zealand, which my mother and many others saw the devastating effects of in human hospital wards and operating rooms – hydatid tapeworm. Luckily, NZ has been free of this for some time.

Roundworms are the bad guys. I have seen a poor young puppy die of a ruptured gut from a severe infestation of these long, classicshaped whiteworms.

This worm can infect humans and the immature form of the worm can migrate to the eye and cause blindness.

In dogs, roundworms can cause a pot bellied appearance, weight loss, lethargy and diarrhoea.

Their other nasty aspect is that they can transfer to young puppies and kittens in the uterus and via the mother’s milk.

In adults, worms are passed on from the faeces of other dogs. Using a good worm treatment regularly and picking up faeces is important for both human health and our furry friends’ health.

Lungworm is another type of roundworm that can infect cats.

Ringworm isn’t aworm. It’s a fungal skin infection.

In the past few years there has been an explosion of products available for the treatment and prevention of fleas and worms.

Treatments come in several physical forms, which includes liquid applied to the fur, chewable cubes, tablets and collars.

Then you need to consider the length of protection each product offers. They range from one month to six-eight months.

There are products to treat only fleas and only worms. Therefore, you need to use two products to cover both. This is OK because it is recommended to treat adult dogs and cats for worms every three months rather than monthly unless it is a high-risk situation.

There are also products that treat fleas and roundworms. In this case you just need to add a tapeworm treatment every three months to complete the plan. Only a few products treat both types of worms and aid flea control in one formulation. Then there is tick, lice and mite control.

Firstly decide if you want a combined treatment or separate, and if you want oral or topical application, and then start researching.

By theway, I helped the earthworm across the path to safer pastures. Just like us, hopefully, in the coming months. Be kind, say hello and smile every day.

Malcolm Anderson is a Manawatu¯ vet

Roundworms are the bad guys.