Attack of the Worms
Attack of the Worms
Did you know that 1.5 million dogs in the UK have a roundworm infection at any one time. These worm eggs can stick to the coat of your dog and transfer to humans, potentially causing disease and eye problems including blindness. An estimated 60 people go blind each year in the UK from roundworm (toxocara) infections.
Vets have always advised that you treat your dog or cat against worms every 3 months but recent research has led to a change. An independant review in 2004 has led to the BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association) to advise that cats & dogs are treated according to risk.
- Cats that stay indoors for all or most of the time should still be wormed every 3 months
- Cats & Dogs that go outside should be treated every month
The reason behind this advice is that the lifecycle of the worm is between 4 & 6 weeks. If your cat or dog is treated within this time, then no worms should survive to cause disease. There are some other simple measures that you can take to reduce infection, such as washing your hands before eating and cleaning up after your dog & cat. Gardeners should wear gloves or wash their hands after gardening and you shouldn't eat food that has dropped to the ground. Together with regular wormimg, these simple steps can reduce infections and prevent human disease.
What do I worm my cat or dog with?
See our video - Attack of the Worms
Press Release - Attack of the Worms @ Pennine Vets
Press Release - Worms in the North West