Worms are almost inevitable in pets, so knowing what to look for and how to treat them is important for your pet’s health.
Worm warning signs:
- Weakness
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Weight loss despite good appetite
- Abnormally swollen stomach
- Scruffy coat
- Lack of appetite
Worms can basically be divided into two main groups; Intestinal worms and Heartworms, so it is important that you use the correct product for the worms you need to treat.
Intestinal Worms
The most common types of intestinal worms are Hookworm, Tapeworm, Whipworm and Roundworm.
Hookworm is one of the most dangerous of all intestinal parasites. It can be transmitted prior to birth or through suckling. It may be detected by the level of your pet’s lethargy, anemia, poor appetite and black tar-like stools that contain blood. Hookworm is usually not passed in the stool, and is therefore difficult to diagnose without a fecal test from your vet.
Tapeworm lives in the small intestine, and steals the nutrients from the food your pet eats. It can infect your pet when it eats its larvae from a host animal, such as a flea or a mouse. There are no obvious symptoms, but small, rice-like segments can be found around the pet’s anus or in the stool. Mature tapeworms cause your pet to eat more than normal, but with no weight gain.
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