Worming your Dog
Where do dogs get worms from?
Most puppies have round worms because they are transmitted from their mothers via the placenta and through the milk. Eggs are then passed out in the faeces and contaminate the environment where they can persist for up to two years. Older dogs pick up roundworms by ingesting the eggs passed in infected dogs' faeces. Tapeworms can be picked up either from fleas or from eating raw meat.
Why is it important to treat my dog for worms?
Young children can pick up roundworm eggs and the infection can in rare circumstances result in blindness or epilepsy as a result of the damage the worms do migrating through the body. This means that effective worming is essential if your dog has contact with young children or is exercised where they play.
Roundworms can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and weight loss in young puppies. Tapeworms are not human health hazard but are unsightly and cause irritation to your pet as the segments crawl around his bottom.
How do I get rid of my dog's worms?
At Yorkshire Vets we can give your puppy a wormer to treat him for roundworms when he comes for each of his primary vaccinations. We then recommend that you worm him every 3 – 4 months for the rest of his life.
How do I keep my dog clear from worms in the future?
If we have an accurate weight for your dog and have examined him during the past 12 months we are happy to prescribe wormers for your dog without you having to bring him to the surgery. Please telephone us and we can prepare your prescription for you to collect the following afternoon.