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Worm Info

Worm Blog Topics

	Dr. Michael Dym Holistic & Conventional Veterinarian
"Over 19 years of caring for the well-being of pets" Visit his Ask the Vet blog.

Worms in Dogs and Cats


	What are Worms in Dogs and Cats? Worms or helminths are internal parasites that drain pets of blood and nutrients. Dogs and cats get worms that can be classified by shape into round or flat. Three types of round-shaped worms (nematodes) live in pet intestines: roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Two types of flat-shaped tapeworms (cestodes) live in pet intestines and other organs, including the liver: echinococcus and taenia. Dogs commonly get hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. Cats commonly get roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, but not whipworms. Pets can also get lungworms, esophageal worms, bloodworms, kidney worms, liver flukes, and intestinal protozoa. The most common pet worms are roundworms, and hookworms. Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are not intestinal parasites but are parasites that live in the heart. Heartworms are not spread like regular intestinal worms, but are spread by mosquitoes. They infect both cats and dogs and can cause death.

Dogs commonly get hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms


	Over ¾ of fecal exams do not find parasites present in feces Because puppies & kittens are born with worms, they should be dewormed regularly Some worms that infect pets also infect people

Which Pets Are Most at Risk for Worms?

Almost universally, puppies and kittens have intestinal worms. Puppies and kittens whelped in large kennels or in unhygienic conditions have the greatest worm burdens. Pets using pet parks, doggy day cares with communal potty areas, farmyards, and city streets where feces is on the sidewalk are prone to having worms. Pregnant and lactating females have worms. Pets kept in humane shelters generally have intestinal worms.

How Do Pets Get Worms?

Puppies and kittens are born with intestinal worms. This occurs because worms resting within the mother's body are stimulated to grow by hormones secreted during pregnancy. The newly developed worms within the mother pass through the placenta (transplacental) and into the young before they are born. In addition, worms are passed through the mother's milk (transmammary) to the young. Puppies, kittens, and lactating bitches and queens should be wormed routinely.

Adult pets pick up worms from eggs that stay in the soil after pets have defecated. Some worm eggs survive for years in soil. Pets also pick up worms from

Eating fleas
Catching prey, such as mice and snails
Eating feces of other pets and farm animals


		Max's Tip:To prevent human infections, pets in homes with children, immune-compromised individuals, or elderly persons should be dewormed at least every 3 months.

Worms and Deworming Medications
Common Name	Scientific Name	Size	Where Pets Pick It Up	Zoonotic Risk To Humans	Deworming Medications
Roundworms	Ascarids Toxocara canis Toxocara Baylisascaris	½ to 8 inches	Toxocara from mother's placenta, mother's milk, & the ground Baylisascaris from raccoons & skunks	Visceral larval migrans	Dog Worms 3 Drontal Drontal Plus Canine Heartgard Plus HomeoPet Wrm Clear Interceptor Iverhart Plus Panacur C Profender Revolution Sentinel
Hookworms	Ancyclostoma caninum Uncinaria	¼ - ½ inch	Mother's placenta, mother's milk, the ground & eating infected prey	Larva migrans Eosinophilic enteritis	Dog Worms 3 Drontal Drontal Plus Canine Heartgard Chewables Heartgard Plus HomeoPet Wrm Clear Interceptor Panacur C Profender Revolution Sentinel
Whipworms	Trichuris	2-3 inches	The ground		Drontal Plus Canine Interceptor Sentinel Panacur C
Threadworms	Strongyloides	¼ inch or less	Transmammary Ground	Infects humans	Panacur C
Tapeworms	Dipylidium Taenia Diphyllobothrium Echinococcus	Adult is up to 2 feet long, but dried segments in feces are size of rice grain Segments dry to size of sesame seed	Dipylidium from eating fleas Taenia from eating rodents Diphyllobothrium from eating freshwater fish Echinococcus from sheep, cattle, deer, coyote, rodents	Hydatid disease	Dog Worms 3 Droncit Drontal Drontal Plus Canine HomeoPet Wrm Clear Panacur C Profender Tape Worm Tabs Cat

Product Active Ingredient	Species	Roundworms	Hookworms	Whipworms	Tapeworms	Schedule
		Can cause human infections	Can cause human infections		Can cause human infections
Droncit Praziquantel	Dogs Cats	+			+	Single dose with food
Drontal Praziquantel Pyrantel Pamoate	Cats Kittens	+	+		+	With food
Drontal Plus Canine Praziquantel Pyrantel Pamoate Febantel	Dogs	+	+	+	+	With food
HomeoPet Worm Clear	Dogs Cats	+	+		+	Daily for 1-2 weeks
Panacur C Fenbendazole	Dogs	+	+	+	+	With food
Profender	Cats	+	+		+	Apply topically
Tape Worm Tabs for Cats Praziquantel	Cats	+	+		+	With food
Dog Worms 3 Pyrantel Pamoate Praziquantel	Dogs	+	+		+	Give as a single dose

Recommended Products for Dogs and Cats with Worms:

Find Drontal Plus on 1-800-PetMeds

Drontal Plus

Find Profender on 1-800-PetMeds

Profender

Find Tape Worm Tabs on 1-800-PetMeds

Tape Worm Tabs

Find Panacur C on 1-800-PetMeds

Panacur C

Find HomeoPet Worm Clear on 1-800-PetMeds

HomeoPet Wrm Clear

Find Dog Worms 3 on 1-800-PetMeds

Dog Worms 3


	Worms in Dogs and Cats Symptoms of Worms in Dogs and Cats Worm Treatment for Dogs and Cats

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Date: 02/01/12 Cateory: Other Pet Type: Dog Topic: Licking
Question: My Dog Is 7yrs, For The Last 5 Days He Has Been Licking His Anal Area. I Don't See Anything There And I Checked His Pooped For Worms And I Don't See Anything There Either. He Is Not Dragging His Butt On The Carpet. He Also Has Not Been Neutered. He Gets Heartgard Monthly And Frontline. Answer: Still Could Be Impacted Anal Glands. I Would Take Him To Vet For Exam.


Date: 01/31/12 Cateory: Flea & Tick Pet Type: Dog Topic: What To Give To Prevent Fleas, Tick And Heartworm
Question: Good Evening Dr. Dym, I Would Like To Purchase Something For My Lab Mix That Will Prevent Fleas, Ticks And Heartworms. Can I Combine Two Medications Such As A Sentinel And Something For Tick Prevention Or Is Their A Combo Medication. We Live Near A Wooded Area And She Comes In With One Or Two On Her A Day After Walks. I Have A Five Month Old Daughter And I Afraid Of Finding One On Her. Please Help. Answer: You Can Try Topical Revolution Which Can Handle All But You Will Need Written Script From Your Vet. Sentinel And Topical Front Line Can Work As Well.


Date: 01/29/12 Cateory: Other Pet Type: Dog Topic: Questions
Question: I Just Inspected My Dogs Poop And I Noticed She Has Worms, She Is A 8 Week Old Puppy And I Was Wondering If It Is Safe To Order The Deworming Meds Off This Site. She Also Needs To Get Her First Set Of Shots, So I Was Wondering Is It Safe To Order Them And Give Them To Her Myself. Please Help, I'm Worried About Her And I Don't Really Have The Money To Take Her To A Vet Right Now. Answer: I Would Prefer Her Have The Shots At Local Vet, But You Can Order Them On Line The Parvo/distemper Combination. The Worming From 1800petmeds Is Fine.


Date: 01/28/12 Cateory: Heartworm Medicine Pet Type: Dog Topic: Heart+worms
Question: My 75-100 Pound Wolf/german Shepard Has Heartworms. What Is The Best Medication I Can Give Him For Heart Worms That Is A Monthly Regimine?thanks For Your Help. Mike Answer: Best Is Monthly Interceptor Or Heartguard. You Would Need Script From Your Vet.


Date: 01/28/12 Cateory: Other Pet Type: Dog Topic: Malnutrition
Question: I Just Rescued A 5mnth Old Boxer Mix, She Has Been Wormed But Is Very Undernourished. She Was In A Large Litter And I Dont Think There Was Ever Enough For Her To Eat. What Is The Best Thing I Can Do To Put Weight On Her. Her Ribs And Bones Stick Out But She Does Not Looked Bloated, She Is Skinny And Scarred All Over. Answer: I Would Try Adding Naturevet Enzymes To Meals From 1800petmeds. Also Try Natural Diet Such As Halo Or Natures Variety.


Date: 01/25/12 Cateory: Heartworm Medicine Pet Type: Dog Topic: Hypoallergenic+heartworm+medicine
Question: I Am Looking For A Hypoallergenic Heartworm Medicine. Please Advise What My Dog Can Take Now That She Is Off All Beef Products. Answer: There Are Still Nonchewable Heartworm Medications Made. Ask Your Local Vet About This.


Date: 01/22/12 Cateory: Wormer Pet Type: Dog Topic: Worming
Question: My Dogs Are Very Healthy. They Had Worms Once In That I Know Of Which Was Years Ago. I Do Take Them To The Vet. For There Shop When Due. Do You Think I Should Deworm Them? Answer: I Dont Think Routine Worming Is Necessary Unless You See Worms Or You Notice That Weight Loss And/or Diarrhea.


Date: 01/19/12 Cateory: Digestive Care Pet Type: Dog Topic: Acute Bloody Watery Diarrhea Poop
Question: On 12/15/2011, Dog Catcher Found And Gave Me A Starving Smelly 6-wks Pit-bull Pup. I Noticed That His Red Raw Butt Was Out. He Was Consistant Pooping Watery, Bloody Diarrhea. Bathed & I Took Him On 12/16/2011 To A Animal Clinic, Which He Was Tested For Provo, Worm, Pestis(sp). Ext. All The Tested Came Out Neg. Nothing Wrong? He Was Given Panacur In Packets For 6 Days. To Give Him White Rise And Chicken. To Bring Back 2wks After He Gets Better For His Shots. I Remain In Contact By Phone. The Pups Raw, Swollen Butt Was Out. He Started Looking Better And Better, As Long As I Fed Him White Rise And Chicken. He Got Feed Anything Else He Would Start With The Watery, Bloody Diarrhea. I Gave The Pup To My Daughter About A Couple Of Days After New Years. He Was Doing Ok And I Explained To My Daughter About His Food Intake. He Started Again With The Bloody, Watery Stool. Swollen Butt And The Vet Clinic Gave Him Metronidazole & Albon. He Was Given His Shots. His Labs Came Out Neg. I Brought The Pup Back Home. I've Noticed That If He Eats Anything Else Besides White Rise And Chicken He Will Start The Bleedying And Loose Watery Diarrhea. Ive Got Two Other Dogs And Its Hard To Keep Them Apart On Feeding Time. What Is Wrong With Him. Am I Going To Have To Put Him Down. I Hope No. Im Tired Of Cleaning After Him. Its Cold To Keep Him Outside. The Main Thing Is Poor Pup, All He Does Is Poop And Eat. He Is Always Starving. I Keep Feeding Him And He Keeps Pooping. At Times He Looks Weak. I Need Advise. Help! Helen Answer: Try Changing Him To Raw Meat Based Diet As Described In Book Dr Pitcairns Guide To Natural Health For Dogs And Cats By Richard Pitcairn, Dvm, Phd. Also Consider Longer Course Of Metronidazole, And Possibly Different Intestinal Antibiotic Known As Tylosin. Add Naturevet Enzymes To Meals From 1800petmeds.


Date: 01/19/12 Cateory: Heartworm Medicine Pet Type: Dog Topic: Heartworm Strands
Question: We Have Been Told That There Is A New Heartworm Strand Out And That We Need To Change From The Heartworm Medicine That We Have Been Given Our Dog That Was In Pill Form To The New Meds That Is In The Liquid That We Put Behind The Neck Under His Hair. None Of Our Other Friends Who Take Their Pets To Different Vets Have Been Told This And Are Still On The Other Meds. Is There A New Strand Of Heartworms Out That Would Warrant Us Changing To This New Formula? Answer: At This Point There Is No Need To Change Your Heartworm Preventative Medication.


Date: 01/17/12 Cateory: Wormer Pet Type: Dog Topic: Dewormer Every Month
Question: I Use Iverhart Max On Both My Dogs And Was Just Curious If It Is Okay To Use A Dewormer Every Month? Is It Harmful On The Digestive Tract Or Are There Any Negative Consequences To The Immune System From Using Any Form Of Pyrantel Or Proziquantel Every Month? Obviously Ivermectin Being The Exception. Answer: I Dont Like Overworming Animals As I Have Seen Inflammatory Changes In Bowel From This. I Would Just Stick With The Iverheart Max Unless You Are Seeing Tapeworms, Then You Could Use Praziquantel As Needed.


Date: 01/17/12 Cateory: Wormer Pet Type: Dog Topic: Searching For An Answer
Question: Dr. Dym, I Have A Puppy (small)that Received Her First Set Of Shots Last Year, And, Will Be Going Back To Receive Her Next Sets Starting February 2012. The Vet Who Provided Her With The Shots Told Me To Give The Dog Heartworm Pills Before She Reached A Year Old. Well, I Did Not Follow The Vets Recommendation, And, My Puppy Is 14 Months Old. Since Today I Have Been Hearing Like Noises Coming From Her Stomach Area That Sounds Like Wormy-grippy Noise. Do You Think This Is Because She Needs Her Heartworm Medicine? I Am Doing My Research And Asking Around Until I Can Hear Back From The Vet. My Puppy Still Runs Around, But,Does Not Seem Like Her Normal Self. I Need Your Help. Very Worried For My Puppy. Thanks. Answer: I Dont Think The Stomach Noises Has To Do With Not Giving Heartworm Medication. Could Be Viral Upset Stomach Or Possibly From Intestinal Parasites. I Would Have Vet Check And Stool Check To Rule This Out. In Meantimed You Can Try Pepcid Ac At Dose Of One Half Mg Per Pound Once To Twice Daily.


Date: 01/15/12 Cateory: Wormer Pet Type: Dog Topic: Worms
Question: Hi, I Just Got My Daughter A Puppy For Xmas And Brought Him Last Week To Get His First Set Of Shots And Wormer. Last Night I Found White Things That Look Like Rice In His Poop. Is This Normal? Answer: Sounds Like Tapeworms. I Would Try Worming Medicine Called Praziquantel Or Droncit.


Date: 01/14/12 Cateory: Other Pet Type: Cat Topic: Some Kind Of Worm
Question: My Aunt Just Called Me. Her Cat Just Threw Up And In The Vomit Was A "worm". This Is White In Collar. The Top Of It Is Round And So Is The End. The Middle Or Body Of The "worm" Is Flat Like A Noodle. It's About 10 Inches Long. She Has It In A Bottle And It Is Moving. Could You Possiboly Know What Kind Of Worm This Is And Perhaps Provide Some Instructions On Care Or Medication Needed. It's Satuday Evening And There Are No Vets Open. Answer: Most Likely Roundworms. I Would Try Worming With Medication Called Nemex Or Pyrantel Or Strongid Which Can Usually Take Care Of This And All Of These Are Over The Counter.


Date: 01/11/12 Cateory: Other Pet Type: Dog Topic: Weight Loss
Question: I Have A Miniature Dashcund Who Has Lost A Lot Of Weight Over The Last Month...she Is Around Seven Years Old...we've Had To Move Twice In The Last Nine Months And She Has Always Inhaled Her Food But Never Had A Problem With Her Weight...i Took Her And Had Her Dewormed Last Week...when Should I See Weight Gain And/or Look For Something Other Than Worms? Answer: Usually They Will Gain Weight Within A Few Weeks If Problem Is Worms. In Pet This Age, I Would Be Thinking Of Other Causes Of Weight Loss So I Would Recommend Full Blood And Urine Workup At Vet If Does Not Gain Weight.


Date: 01/11/12 Cateory: Flea & Tick Pet Type: Cat Topic: Flee
Question: Can I Use Frontline For Dogs On My Cat In A Smaller Dose? Also, Do You Sell A 'multi-wormer' For Cats And Dogs That Deals With All Worms Or Do I Have To Buy Them All Separate? Thank You Ashian Answer: Panacure C Can Be Used Off Label For Cats. I Dont Recommend Dividing Up Larger Doses Of Front Line For Cats.

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