Most responsible dog owners know that they should be worming their dog but there are many myths regarding why to worm, how often to worm and what to worm with. Here are the facts:

 Why to worm?

 Worms are masters of multiplication and survival so there are plenty of worms out there waiting to infect your dog. Dogs can acquire worm infections when they come across tiny worm eggs from sources such as:

  • Animal faeces
  • Contaminated soil
  • Fleas
  • Scavenging and hunting
  • Mother’s milk

 There are many different types of worms in the UK including roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms and others!It can be difficult to know if your dog is infected with one of these common intestinal worms. Your dog can appear totally healthy and may not pass worms in their faeces as is often thought. Symptoms of worm infection can include scooting their bottom on the ground, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and a distended abdomen. However, it is better to treat your dog for worms before they start to damage their health. In addition to this a dog with worms poses a health risk to other animals and humans.

How often to worm?

 It is recommended that you worm your dog at least every 3 months to kill any worms present and prevent them developing to a stage where they can damage your dog’s health. In certain situations more frequent worming may be needed. An example is in puppies where worming should be carried out every fortnight until the age of 12 weeks. You should consult your vet if you are concerned about the correct worming regime for your dog.

 What to worm with?

It is important to use an effective wormer at the correct dose in order to ensure your dog is not infected with worms. Drontal Plus and Cestem are worming products recommended by vets that are available without a prescription. They both contain the same ingredients (pyrantel, praziquantel and febantel) and are effective against all important roundworm and tapeworm species. They are flavoured making them easier to give.

 It is also important to control fleas on your dog or they will re-infect your dog with worms and you will be fighting a losing battle!