If you ever need a justification for worming your pet, then just consider the nasties that your cat, or dog, can catch.

Heading up the list of the usual suspects is roundworm, followed in a line up including tapeworm, hookworm, whipworm and heartworm.

Lets take a look at each one in turn and see how you might be able to cope if your pet gets the condition.

Roundworm

First up is roundworm and this is high in the rogue’s gallery of worn infestations, mainly because of its contagious nature where other animals and also people are concerned. All puppies are born with roundworm and have to be wormed accordingly. It is also thought that some 15% of adult dogs and cats are infected with the worm, many without any indication that they have the condition.

Roundworm is transmitted from carrier to carrier when faeces from an affected dog are deposited into the environment. The microscopic roundworm eggs are then swallowed by other animals as they move through the grass. The eggs can survive for nearly three years without a host. Once inside their new host, the eggs develop into adult worms, which them shed more eggs which are shed once again within the faeces, so perpetuating the lifecycle.

It is particularly nasty for humans to get roundworm, but although between 2% to 3% of adults get roundworm at some stage in their lives, it is not a major problem and can easily be prevented with sound hygiene habits. Human eyes are particularly vulnerable to roundworm attacks, as the eggs turn into larvae and work their way to the back of the eye. This causes eye damage in around a dozen, or so people every year.

In terms of coping with the problem, prevention is better than cure, so clean away your dog faeces so as to avoid the possible spread of the eggs and worm your pet on a regular basis. If you suspect that your dog has got roundworm, then start a strict hygiene regime, isolate them the best you can from members of your family and other pets, and take them immediately to the vet for treatment.

Tapeworm

Next up is the delightful tapeworm which comes in quite a few forms, including: echinococcus granulosus and echinococcus multilocularis.

In the U.K., the first form, echinococcus granulosus, is only really found in the Hebrides and Central Wales. On mainland Europe, it affects most countries. Only dogs and foxes are susceptible, cats cannot catch it.

With echinococcus multilocularis, cats can catch it, but it’s not really around in the U.K., but is in major parts of mainland Europe. This is why pets that have travelled to Europe under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), must be wormed against this parasite prior to their return to the U.K.

Sheep carry echinococcus granulosus and if a dog, or a fox were to eat the infected carcass of a sheep, they could become infected. In the case of echinococcus multilocularis, this is carried by rodents and if they were to be eaten, then they could affect the cat, or dog.

Those animals which are infected by tapeworm drop eggs within their faeces and this is then picked up by the sheep, or indeed cattle, and the lifecycle is perpetuated.

Humans should avoid coming into contact with tapeworm, as surgery is required in some extreme cases to remove them. Most cases result in cysts, or cause damage to the liver.

When it comes to prevention and treatment, try to ensure that your pet does not have access to dead farm animals, or rodents, or eats raw meat.

But for those animals that live in risky areas, they should be wormed, sometimes every month if infestation is suspected, and if caught, the animal should be taken to the vet immediately for treatment.

Another two types of tapeworm are comparatively common in the U.K. and these are: Taenia and Dipylidium Caninum. Taenia tapeworm is spread by infected grazing animals such as sheep, cattle and rabbits, and it can spread to a dog if they are allowed to eat the carcasses. Also, cats can catch it if they eat infected rodents. Although it causes cysts in infected farm animals (making their meat unfit for eating), it does not cause any health problems for humans, or indeed, any major problems for the pets themselves. Keep you pet away from dead farm animals and rodents, and ensure that they are wormed regularly.

The Dipylidium Caninum tapeworm is the most common tapeworm species and affects dogs, cats, and, sometimes, although not often, humans. It poses no great major health problems for any of the susceptible groups, although worms present in the pet’s faeces can cause irritation. Pets should be wormed on a regular basis and be the subject of a strict flea control regime. If an owner suspects their animal has been infested, they should consult a vet.

Hookworm

Lets move onto the hookworm, which is rare in the U.K., but more common on mainland Europe.

Its eggs are deposited by infected animals and they turn into larvae, which can burrow into the skin of passing animals, mainly via through the feet. They can also be accidently swallowed.

The threat to humans is minimal, but there have been cases of humans catching hookworm which has resulted in stomach upsets, or skin problems. In pets, a light infection will be hard to spot as it will likely be symptomless; in a heavy infection, it can cause anemia in dogs and cats.

Treatment is administered by a wormer.

Whipworm

Rare in the U.K., whipworm are quite common on mainland Europe and are usually a problem where a large number of dogs congregate, such as a kennels. They are spread through a dogs faeces. A heavy infection can cause diarrhea in dogs, but does not usually cause problems in cats, or humans. For those dogs that do live in close proximity with others, preventative worming is always recommended.

Heartworm

This somewhat strangely named worm is not to be found in the U.K., but there are a number of hotspots on mainland Europe, so owners should be cautious when visiting certain areas.

The worm’s name actually reveals its habitat, as it lives in the heart and arteries of those animals which have become infected. As the worms grow, they eject microscopic larvae into the infected animal’s bloodstream. As the mosquitoes then feed on the animal’s blood, they ingest the larvae and pass them into the next animal – or man – that they feed upon; so creating a circle.

Humans are not at high risk, because they are not the ideal host, but if a pet were to be infected, then drug therapy, or even surgery, might be needed to correct the infestation.

Preventative Worming

All the above worms are treatable, but it is always better for an owner to provide their pet with a course of preventative worming, especially in high risk areas, rather than correct the infestation through expensive treatment.

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