De-worming

Roundworms (Toxocara species)

These worms are commonly seen in young dogs and cats, and particularly prevalent in Bali. The adults live in the small intestine and the eggs are passed in the faeces. Animals are infected by eating other infected animals (e.g. mice, rats), eating the faeces of other animals or, in puppies and kittens, via their mother’s milk. Eggs are passed in the faeces 3 weeks after infection.

Infection with roundworms can cause a poor hair coat, weight loss (or lack of weight gain in puppies/kittens), a pot-bellied appearance, and diarrhoea. Worms are sometimes vomited up or seen in the faeces. Treatment is with an oral deworming medication with a follow up dosage in 3 weeks to catch the next generation that were eggs or larvae at the time of the first dosing.

Roundworms can infect humans, not usually in the adult form, but in their larval form. In a few cases children who ingest the eggs can suffer eye damage or blindness because the worm larvae move through the body causing damage to the tissues. This disease is called ‘Visceral larval migrans.’

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Tapeworms (Dipylidium and Taenia species)

Tapeworms are long flat white worms composed of many segments that live in the intestines of dogs and cats. There are 2 main types that affect dogs and cats, Dipylidium and Taenia species. Dipylidium is obtained by the animal eating an infected flea whilst grooming (licking) itself. Taenia on the other hand is transmitted by eating infected small mammals (rats and mice), or by eating the faeces of infected animals.

Cats that hunt and dogs that live on farms or in close proximity to livestock are the highest risk. Diagnosis is by visualization of the small, rice-like worms in the faeces (most common method); or seeing the eggs on a faecal flotation exam. The eggs and worm segments are inconsistently shed in the faeces, so just because you can’t see any in your pets stool doesn’t guarantee that your pet is not infected. Nor does a negative faecal flotation exam completely rule out the existence of a tapeworm infection. Clinical signs are rare since tapeworm infection rarely causes a problem. Some clinical signs can be a dull coat, an itchy anus, diarrhoea or lethargy. Treatment is via oral deworming medication, an injection or a spot-on.

Tapeworm infection of humans is not common but can occur occasionally, usually in children who have ingested a flea which contains the larvae of the tapeworm. Adults can become infected with tapeworms by eating infected meat that is not cooked properly.

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Hookworms (Ancylostoma species)

These worms are most commonly seen in young dogs and cats. Adult worms live in the small intestine, with the eggs passing out of the body in the stool. Animals become infected with hookworms by the following routes: eating infective eggs or larvae, penetration of footpads or skin by larvae, transmission through the milk while nursing young, or transmission from the mother into the foetus while still pregnant.

It takes three weeks from the time of infection until eggs are passed into the faeces. Hookworm infection can cause a severe and sometimes fatal anaemia in young, weak, or malnourished animals. Clinical signs are weight loss, diarrhoea, and bloody faeces. Worms are occasionally seen in the faeces. Treatment consists of oral deworming medication and correction of any anaemia. A follow up treatment is given 3 weeks later.

Hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin and cause a skin problem called Cutaneous Larval Migrans. No one should be barefoot for 5-7 days while the pet is being treated for hookworms.

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Whipworms (Trichuris species)

This worm affects dogs 3 months of age or older. The adults live in the large intestine and eggs are passed in the faeces. Diagnosis can sometimes be difficult because whipworms are not prolific egg-layers. Infection is via faecal-oral transmission.

Eggs do not appear in the faeces until 3 months after infection. Clinical signs that can be seen are weight loss and diarrhoea, with or without blood. These worms are usually not seen in the stool. Treatment consists of an oral deworming medication with a follow up treatment in 3 months.

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