Worms

Roundworms

The various species of roundworms are common parasites which are found in dogs and cats.

Adult roundworms live in the small intestine. Roundworms are also commonly referred to as ascarids, puppy worms or kitten worms. They are the most common parasites of dogs and cats worldwide.

They are the most common intestinal parasite of puppies. They are normally acquired prior to birth via the mother's bloodstream. They can also be transmitted via the milk while nursing.

What are the symptoms of roundworms?

• Potbelly
• Diarrhoea
• Gas
• Vomiting
• Lack of energy
• Slower growth rate
• A dull coat

If the animal has immature roundworms migrating through the lungs this can cause coughing. Sometimes roundworms cause no symptoms at all.

How are roundworms transmitted?

• 1. Eggs passed in the stool larvae and these larvae are eaten by another cat or dog

2. Eggs passed in the stool larvae and these larvae are ingested by an intermediate host, like a mouse, bird, beetle or earthworm, which is eaten by a dog or cat

3. The puppies or kittens are infected in the womb by larvae in the mother's body

4. The puppies or kittens are infected by ingesting larvae from their mother's milk

How are roundworms diagnosed?

Roundworms are usually diagnosed by microscopic examination of a small amount of the patient's stool.

Adult roundworms aren't often seen in the stool but when they are seen they can be quite easily detected. In this small percent of cases the adult worms are easily detected and diagnosed in the stool. In the overwhelming majority of cases, however, roundworms are diagnosed by detecting the eggs with a microscope.

What is the public health significance of roundworms?

Roundworms can infect humans, although it is not common. As humans are not the ideal host, roundworms will not develop into adult worms in the human. People most at risk of developing getting roundworms are children, especially if they have been eating dirt.

How can roundworms in people be prevented?

This condition can be prevented by careful attention to hygiene. Make sure all pets are checked routinely, yearly, for roundworms and other parasites. Deworm the pets as needed. Don't let children eat dirt or the stool of pets.

How are roundworms treated?

Vets have several effective medications for eliminating roundworms. Most of these are given to the pet either by the mouth in a pill or liquid, or by injection. For most cases of roundworms vets give an initial treatment and then a follow up treatment two to three weeks later.

Most dewormers will eliminate only the adult roundworms. The follow up worming eliminates the younger worms that aren't killed with the first deworming drugs.

Questions and answers

Q. If my dog or cat has been treated for roundworms can they become infected again?
A. Yes. Reinfection is certainly possible although it is less likely in mature, healthy pets.

Q. How can I prevent reinfection?
A. The best ways are,

• Keep your pet away from areas that can be contaminated by faeces from infected animals
• Empty the cats litter tray daily and pick up your dog's droppings
• Discourage hunting of mice, birds or "bugs"
• Have the stool analyzed routinely, once yearly

Q. Besides roundworms, are there other intestinal parasites that my dog or cat can become infected with?
A. Yes. In addition to roundworms, your dog can pick up tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms,  coccidia and giardia, which are parasites. Your cat can pick up tapeworms, hookworms, or coccidia, toxoplasma and giardia parasites.

Hookworms

These worms can kill a heavily parasitized young pup by causing a severe anaemia and precipitating secondary infections. Pups can become infected in the womb or from contaminated surroundings. Infected adults may be thin, have flatulence or tarry stools.

Hookworms infect the small intestine of dogs and cats. Hookworms can cause serious illness in pets because they are "blood suckers".

What are the symptoms of hookworms?

In severe cases of hookworm, dogs and cats can have a tarry or bloody diarrhoea along with pallor pale gums, anaemia, weakness, emaciation and dehydration. In severe cases the blood loss can be fatal. The severity of symptoms with hookworms depends on the species of hookworm involved. Some species are deadly while others cause very little disease and the number of hookworms acquired.

How are hookworms transmitted?

Hookworms can be transmitted in five ways

• By eating infectious larvae
• Skin penetration by infectious larvae
• Through the mother to unborn puppies of kittens
• Deposited in the mother's milk and consumed by the newborn puppies or kittens
• Ingestion of an intermediate host, a small insect or mammal, harbouring infectious hookworm larvae

How are hookworms diagnosed?

Hookworms are diagnosed by detecting the eggs under the microscope on a stool analysis.

What disease can hookworms cause in people?

When infectious hookworm larvae touch a person's bare skin they can cause a condition called a creeping eruption in which the hookworm larvae migrate through the skin and cause severe itching.

How are hookworms treated in cats and dogs?

Hookworms are treated with oral deworming medications. In severe cases a blood transfusion may also be needed.

How can I prevent reinfection with hookworms?

Clean the kennel or litter tray and the surrounding environment often to prevent contact with contaminated faeces. Make sure all pets are hookworm free by periodically checking stool samples visually.

Whipworms

These worms live in the large bowel and cause intermittent loose stools, which can vary from being very watery to mucousy. They can be very difficult to diagnose since eggs are not passed in the stool at all times. Your vet may recommend a rectal scraping to confirm a diagnosis.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are common parasites of dogs and cats in our area. Tapeworms live in the small intestine and compete with the pet for the food they eat.

These worms can be responsible for your pet's itchy rear end. The worm lives in the intestine and can be up to 20 inches long. Tapeworms are composed of segments and these are passed out via the pet's anus. They can often be seen sticking to the haircoat under the tail, like dried rice grains. The most common source of tapeworm infection is the flea, so they are very common in Summer and Autumn.

What are the symptoms of tapeworms?

The most common symptoms are scooting on the rear end to relieve the itching caused by the crawling, egg containing segments which are shed by the worm. In some cases the pet will be have a dull coat and will show weight loss. The pet could experience mild diarrhoea, gas, vomiting and lack of energy. In a small percentage of severe cases, tapeworms can cause intestinal blockage due to their bulk. In most cases, however, the tapeworms have few affects on the pet's health.

How are tapeworms transmitted?

Tapeworms are transmitted when the pet eats a creature that already has the worm. Tapeworms can also be transmitted when dogs and cats eat raw, or poorly cooked, pork, fish or beef.

Can people catch dog or cat tapeworms?

Generally speaking the answer is "no" although it's possible to catch dog or cat tapeworms under certain bizarre circumstances. When proper common sense hygiene is observed people will not become infected with dog or cat tapeworms. Humans usually get tapeworms from eating poorly cooked meat products, beef or pork.

How are tapeworms treated?

Tapeworms are treated with special deworming products in either a tablet or injection.

How effective is the injection?

This dewormer has been shown to be 100% effective.

Is a follow up injection needed for tapeworms?

No. Because of their direct life cycle the tapeworms are eliminated all at once. However, it should be noted that re infection with tapeworms is not uncommon.

How can a pet become re infected with tapeworms?

If they are still in the same environment and the dog or cat engages in the same behaviour, hunting mice or rabbits, biting fleas, eating raw meat, then they could become reinfected.

How can tapeworms be prevented?

Eliminate fleas from the pet when they are present and follow a flea prevention program. Try to prevent the pet from hunting small mammals such as mice or rabbits. Do not feed raw meat or fish to dogs or cats.

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is the name of a disease produced which can infect the small intestine of dogs and cats.

What are the symptoms of Coccidiosis?

Clinical signs vary from case to case. Puppies and kittens are usually more severely affected than older pets. In light infections little or no clinical signs may be seen. In heavy infections the patient can develop a bloody diarrhoea with much mucous in it, vomiting, depression, weight loss and fever.

How is Coccidiosis transmitted?

Pets get coccidiosis by eating contaminated stools. More severe cases of coccidiosis are often seen in young animals under stressful conditions such as shipping, weaning, pet shops, kennels, etc.

Can people catch Coccidiosis?

No.

How is Coccidiosis diagnosed?

It is diagnosed by detecting the coccidia organisms in a stool sample analysed under a microscope.

How is Coccidiosis treated?

It is treated by giving oral medications for several days.

How can I prevent it reinfection?

• Clean up after your pet, make sure that pups don't eat their own stools
• Remember that stools are the source of the eggs
• Adhere to a schedule of stool examination and deworming as directed by your vet
• In a multi pet household, have all the animals tested at the same time. This will prevent cross infection

Remember the best source of advice is a vet. So if you have any questions or are worried about your pet, then speak to your local vet.

Contact us

Environmental enforcement
Tel: 020 7525 5777
environment@southwark.gov.uk