Intestinal parasites — ‘worms’ — are common in dogs and cats, and usually go unseen. Some can be passed to humans. Regular worming protects your pet and your family.

Which worms, and what are the risks?

The main groups are the roundworms (ascarids, hookworms) and the flatworms (tapeworms, including Echinococcus). Many infected animals show no sign at all, yet the worms still do harm. Some are dangerous to humans (this is called a zoonosis): ascarids and Echinococcus in particular, above all for children.

Which signs should alert you?

  • Diarrhoea, vomiting, an erratic appetite, weight loss
  • A dull coat, a pot belly and stunted growth in young animals
  • Sometimes, visible worms in the stools or around the anus
When to seek help quickly — Persistent diarrhoea, weight loss or visible worms warrant an examination. A puppy or kitten with a swollen belly and poor growth should be seen: in the very young, the worm burden can be heavy.

How do you protect your pet?

Worming clears the parasites present. How often depends on lifestyle: as a rule several times a year for an adult, more often for puppies and kittens, for hunters and in households with young children. A stool analysis makes it possible, where needed, to target the treatment.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Worming only ‘when you see worms’: most are never seen.
  • Forgetting the link with fleas: they transmit a tapeworm — treat both.
  • Not worming a new pet as soon as it arrives.

Prevention

Worm your pet regularly according to the agreed schedule, keep fleas under control, pick up droppings, and wash your hands — and have children do the same after playing with the animal or in a sandpit.

The key points: worms are often invisible but very real, and some affect humans. Regular worming, tailored to your pet’s lifestyle, protects the whole household.