DEWORMING PETS

Deworming Program for Pets

Pets need all the love and attention not only when they were young, as they grow they have needs that we have to provide so that they grow healthy.  Aside from the good nutrition and the safe environment that fur parents provide, there are other aspects of health care that pet owners must provide to maintain good health.  This includes the visit to your veterinarian to protect them from infection.  Vaccinations and parasite control are just some of the preventives given to pets to control and stop disease conditions. 

Yes, let me emphasize on parasite control.  Deworming for pets are given even early prior to vaccinations when pup or kitten even reaches a month old.  

The feces of our pets can carry parasitic ova (eggs) that can be transferable to humans.  

Parasitic infection can cause severe organ infection aside from poor weight gain and unthrifty hair coat of our pets.  This is the reason deworming is given on regular intervals especially on pets that are exposed outdoors.  

Parasitic infection is one of main reason why pets 

have vaccination failures.

Watery diarrhea is usually the chief complaint we receive from out clients regarding their pets.  Our job as veterinarian is to determine the nature of this bowel movement whether it is caused by viral, bacterial or parasitic origin.  I remember a  case represented by Mason, a 4 year old beagle, that had watery diarrhea.  Initial work up on such cases includes fecal examination.  The dog was positive for Trichuris spp ova.

Commonly known as whipworms, it can cause severe bloody diarrhea leading to weight loss, severe anemia and dehydration.  Infection starts thru ingestion of Trichuris eggs found on the environment by unsuspecting pets. These eggs can live on soil for years and are very resistant to desiccations.  

Treatment of whipworms includes a combination of anthelminthic drugs.  Supportive medications was provided to address dehydration.   Mason recovered well from this infection.   Pets that have an active lifestyle outdoors need to have their deworming program on a regular basis. Identification of the worm present gives your veterinarian the advantage on which specific deworming agent can be used. 

Deworming program varies from pet to pet 

depending on their activity. 

 Outgoing pets that are in contact with soil, frequent visits to areas where there is high volume of pets are usually have routine deworming done every 3 months.  Rescues or animals in the shelter, multi-cat households also will be recommended to have quarterly basis deworming program.  

Toxocara spp obtained from a puppy. Photo owned by Dr Chris Martin Bain

Your veterinarian will dispense the appropriate deworming agent based on your pet's age and condition.  

Paste, tablets, spot-on formulas and injectable forms are available. Deworming is just one of the methods in parasite control, external parasites such as fleas should also be addressed since they are vectors or possible carriers of future infection.  This will be discussed in a separate blog.  See your veterinarian for further details regarding your pet’s needs.