The life of a pet parent isn’t just quiet cuddles on the sofa and share-worthy adventures. As every responsible pet owner knows, there’s some less photogenic stuff that goes on, including things like worms. Sometimes cats and dogs can live with worms with no symptoms, or very hard to spot ones. Here’s everything you need to know about worms in your pets, including how to prevent them.

Worms are small parasites that live inside your pet’s body, especially their major organs like their intestines, colon, lungs and even heart. Left untreated, worms can cause a range of health problems and even death. Thankfully, it’s easy to prevent your pet getting worms by using regular worm treatments for dogs and worm treatments for cats.

Top tip: Set up an AutoDeliver for your pet's flea treatments so you never forget to flea and worm treat them. AutoDelivery let's you choose the frequency you want the treatments and sends a reminder before it's processes Learn more.

Types of worms

In New Zealand, there are 4 types of worms our pets can be affected by:

• • • Roundworms.
    • Hookworms.
    • Whipworms.
    • Tapeworms.

Roundworms mainly affect young puppies and kittens. This is because most puppies with roundworms are born with them - they’re infected by their mother when they’re still inside them. It’s not thought that young kittens are born with roundworms. Instead, they pick them up from their mother once they’re born or from their environment.

Symptoms of roundworms in cats and dogs include:

• • • Pot-bellied appearance.
    • Poor growth.
    • Weight loss.
    • Rough and dull fur.
    • Vomiting and diarrhoea.
    • Coughing, if the roundworms have moved into their lungs.

If you are concerned about your pet having roundworms, take your pet to the vet for a check up.

Hookworms can affect both cats and dogs and they’re normally picked up from the environment. They’re more common in kittens and puppies, although adult animals can suffer with them too. Plus, puppies can be infected through their mother’s milk, although kittens can’t.

Hookworms survive by attaching themselves to the wall of your pet’s intestine and feeding on blood. This can lead to severe and fatal blood loss - especially because they can live up to 2 years in your pet’s small intestine.

Symptoms of hookworms include:

• • • Pale gums.
    • Low energy.
    • Weight loss.
    • Lack of appetite.
    • Black, sticky poos (a sign of digested blood).

If you are concerned about your pet having hookworms, take your pet to the vet for a check up.

When it comes to worms, dogs definitely pull the short straw! Only dogs are affected by whipworms. They normally affect older puppies (4 months and older) and adult dogs. Whipworms make themselves at home in your dog’s intestines where they feast on blood and tissue.

Young developing worms that live in the small intestine lining don’t usually cause problems. It’s when the adults worms move to the large intestine that you might see symptoms like:

• • • Bloody diarrhoea.
    • Weight loss.
    • Dehydration.
    • Pale gums and low energy.

If you are concerned about your pet having whipworms, take your dog to the vet for a check up.

Tapeworms are long, flat, segmented worms that live in your cat’s or dog’s intestine. Eggs develop in this segment and then break off. A common way for pets to get tapeworms is by accidentally eating infected fleas while they’re grooming themselves. That’s why regular cat flea treatments and dog flea treatments are so important too.

Pets rarely get sick from tapeworms but some symptoms you might notice are:

• • • What looks like grains of rice in your pet’s poo or around their bottom - these are tapeworm egg packets.
    • Your dog dragging their bottom across the floor.
    • Licking around their bottom.
    • Weight loss, even if they’re eating the same amount.

If you are concerned about your pet having tapeworms, take your pet to the vet for a check up.

The easiest and best way to prevent worms in your pets is to use regular worm treatments for dogs and worm treatments for cats. You’ll need to do this for life to keep them safe and healthy. Make a note of their last treatment and when their next treatment is due - or set up an AutoDelivery of your pet's flea and worm treatment, learn more. This makes sure they’re always protected and is the best preventative measure.

Worming schedule

Kittens and puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks until they’re 12 weeks old. They’ll then be wormed every month until they’re 6 months old. After that, adult cats and dogs should be wormed every 3 months. The correct dosage of wormer is based on your pet’s weight. Consult your vet or the packaging for more information on treating your pets.

Other preventative measures

As well as regular treatment, here are some other tips to keep your pet protected and you and your family safe and worm-free:

• Clean your pet’s food and water bowls regularly.
• Clean your pet’s living area at least once a week. Any poo outside should be buried or picked up and thrown away. Always wash your hands after picking up poo.
• Brush your pet's fur/coat regularly to get rid of dead skin and hair, then use a flea comb to ensure your pet is flea free.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after playing with your pets, and ensure children do too.
• Keep up with regular cat flea treatments and dog flea treatments.
• Have annual health and wellness checks with your vet.

We hope this guide answers all your worm-related questions. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz