Intestinal Worm Control In Pets

Domestic animals and pets such as dogs and cats are known to get infected by a variety of intestinal parasites. Among these, worms such as helminthes and nematodes present the toughest challenge. Most important intestinal worms infesting these animals include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.

These insects are transmitted to animal by means of different carrier agents such as fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. However, transmission can also occur accidentally when the pet has eaten something in the grass. Transmission can occur even when the pet is just playing in the garden since some of these worms have the ability to penetrate skin.

Infection of an intestinal worms results in severe damage to the gastro-intestinal lining resulting in symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, anemia, weight loss and loss of appetite. The most common procedure for diagnosing the presence of intestinal worms is through careful examination of feces. Two types of examinations are done to identify intestinal parasites. These include microscopic examination of feces sample and feces float test.

Most of the times, these worms reside in the intestinal cavity of the host. However, there are certain worms that can invade to other important organs such as lungs and heart resulting in fatal death. It is important to get the intestine cleared off these parasites before they can cause a significant damage to the intestinal system. There are certain effective preventative treatments available that can remove these parasites from the intestine. Worming of the pet is important for its health. Worming frequency depends on the age of the pet and its habitat. Apart from this, dogs and cats must be given treatment for removing fleas and ticks. If the dog uses the garden as a toilet, it is important to clean up the feces and bury them.

Article by Jared Lee