Dogs and cats unwillingly host a variety of internal parasites throughout their lifetime. Even house pets can get infected with worms that can be passed onto their pet parents. Deworming not only removes intestinal parasites from your pet’s body but also protects your entire family – especially those who are most vulnerable – from infections.
Do puppies and kittens need deworming?
Puppies and kittens often get infected with roundworms. Their mothers either pass it on to them before they’re born or when they are nursing. We recommend your pet get their first dewormer at 6 to 8 weeks old in most cases. As your pet ages, they’ll need less frequent doses. Typically, a dewormer twice a year is enough to remove internal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. If your pet spends a lot of time around children, immunocompromised or pregnant people, we recommend more frequent deworming. If you’re interested in getting your pet dewormed, please contact us at 403-217-0460.
How do worms affect pets?
Most infections can’t be diagnosed with the naked eye, though symptoms can be a sign of a potential infection. The combination of a physical exam, bloodwork or fecal analysis is the only way to confirm that your pet has an internal parasite infection. Some ways worm infections can affect your pet include:
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Dry hair
- Vomiting
- Sickly appearance
How do worms affect people?
Some parasites are zoonotic, which means they transmit diseases that can be harmful to humans. Young children, immunocompromised or pregnant people at home are at a higher risk of infection. Apart from deworming your pet, it’s essential to take additional steps to limit the potential for infections. For example, if your children play in areas where animal feces could be present, like a garden or sandbox, it’s important to remove it properly or keep the area covered when it’s not being used. After handling your pet, it’s important to practice proper hygiene, like cleaning your hands thoroughly.
