Worming
Common worms that infect dogs in Britain are roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, lungworm and tapeworm. Heartworm is not currently endemic in the UK but could be encountered by pets travelling out of the country or living in warmer areas in the South of England where there are mosquitoes present. Common worms that infect cats in Britain are roundworm, tapeworm, lungworm and hookworm. Both puppies and kittens should be wormed from 2 weeks of age onwards. They should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old. Then they should be wormed every month from 12 weeks until 6 months old. After they reach 6 months of age they are wormed every 3-6 months for life, depending on their risk of infection. Some types of worms will pass in the animal’s faeces and may be visible to the naked eye but many of them are not and you cannot judge whether your pet has worms from examining their faeces. Pet shop and super market wormers may not cover all of the following types of worms so it is important that owners contact the veterinary clinic for advice on what products you should use to ensure your pet is fully covered.
Roundworm
Toxocara canis in dogs and Toxocara cati in cats. These are long white worms that look like pieces of spaghetti. Puppies get infected by larvae from the mother in the womb and also through the milk once they are born. Most adult dogs will have dormant larvae in their tissues which cannot be killed by wormers. The larvae usually come out of the tissue and migrate to the gut and various other tissues when the animal is immunosuppressed / pregnant. If larvated eggs are swallowed by humans they can cause a condition called visceral larval migrans. Rarely a larva may settle in the retina causing blindness in a condition called ocular larva migrans. In cats, migration of the larvae are restricted to the gut only therefore there is no infection of kittens in the womb or through the milk. Usual signs of infection are weight loss, dull-coat and pot-bellied appearance of pups. They can cause vomiting, mucoid diarrhoea, coughing and gut blockages if severe enough.
Hookworm
Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala are the hookworm seen in this part of the world. They mainly affect dogs but can infect cats and are carried by foxes. Pups are infected via the milk from their mother or the larvae in soil penetrate the skin of dogs and migrate through the blood to the lungs. They are coughed up and swallowed and they mature in the gut of the dog. They feed off blood and mainly cause anaemia and gut ulceration in the infected dog. Dermatitis of the skin between the toes can be associated with larval invasion.
Whipworm
Trichuris vulpis live in the caecum of dogs and it can also infect cats. The eggs are passed in the faeces and can remain in the environment for up to 5 years. There no clinical signs associated with mild infections but heavy burdens can cause weight loss and diarrhoea.
Tapeworm:
Dipylidium caninum is common in the UK and it is spread by fleas in cats and dogs. Cats can pick up tapeworm from eating mice and rats. Echinococcus granulosis occurs in Wales only and dogs can become infected by eating raw meat. Sickness is rarely seen with infection but visible segments of the tapeworm are passed in dog and cat faeces and can cause an itchy bum. The main health risk to humans is from more dangerous species of tapeworm that are seen in Europe. Pets travelling back in to the UK from Europe must be treated for tapeworm before they are allowed back in to the country.
Lungworm
Oslerus osleri mainly causes a problem in puppies and they pick it up from the saliva of their mother while she is licking them. The worm lives in nodules in the wind pipe and may cause a persistent cough. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus affects cats and they pick it up by eating an infected bird or rodent. Again it may cause a chronic cough.
Angiostrongylus vasorum cases are on the increase in dogs all over the country. Dogs become infected by eating slugs or snails which contain the larvae. The adult worm inhabits the heart and major blood vessels of the lungs and it can be fatal. It is widespread across Britain now and it also infects foxes. Clinical signs of the infection include lethargy, exercise intolerance, weight loss, coughing, fits and bleeding due to abnormal clotting. Infections are more common in dogs under 2 years old but it can affect dogs of all ages.
Updated 05-01-2011
