Internal parasites can negatively impact your dog or cat’s health. Parasites like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and more can cause serious illnesses and, in some cases, death. Deworming is the only way to eradicate worms from your dog or cat’s body. If you’re interested in learning more about deworming, please contact us at 306-373-3500.
What are the symptoms of worms in dogs or cats?
Some of the most common worms that infect dogs and cats are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms. Some worms are present in your cat or dog’s feces while others aren’t as easy to detect with the naked eye. For example, tapeworms can shed segments, which look like cucumber seeds, around your home or your dog/cat’s anus. In some cases, dogs or cats can lose weight and have diarrhea or vomit if they are carrying a large worm burden, which means they’re infected with multiple worms.
Can worms affect humans?
Worms can be transmitted to humans and can have serious consequences. Small children, pregnant people and immune-compromised individuals are at the greatest risk. Deworming is the best way to prevent transmission to humans and other animals in your household.
What deworming schedule should my dog/cat follow?
Deworming schedules vary based on your dog or cat’s lifestyle. Our veterinary team will work with you to create a deworming schedule tailored for your dog or cat’s individual needs. For example, worms are often passed on to puppies during nursing so they’ll require more deworming treatments in their first few weeks of life. In Saskatchewan, we recommend deworming puppies and kittens under 6 months of age at 6 and 8 weeks old and then monthly up to 6 months old. Dogs and cats over 6 months of age are recommended to be dewormed every 3 months. Deworming medications are safe for your cat and easy to give. It is not uncommon to see dead worms in the litter box within a few days of administering them.
