It is extremely important to keep up a constant worming routine to ensure your pet is kept safe from a number of different worms that pose a constant threat to your pet’s wellbeing. If infected they can become very unwell and in some cases it can even be fatal. Being aware of the signs, keeping your pet up to date with preventative treatments and regular vet checks are the precautions that should be taken to keep your pet healthy. This month's article will give you everything you need to know about worms to make sure your furry friend stays worm free!
The Worms to Watch.
Heartworm
Hea
rtworm is contracted when an infected mosquito bites your pet and the worms are injected into your pet's body and transported through the bloodstream. Eventually, the worms settle into the pet's heart vessels which are an ideal environment for them to grow and reproduce. When heartworms infest your pet's heart, they damage the blood cells and the vessel walls. This can cause clotting, scarring, and narrowing of the blood vessels. In addition, your pet's heart is forced to pump faster and its blood pressure goes up. Over time this can become fatal, causing your pets heart to fail.
Whipworm
Whip worms generally infect pets through the consumption of food or water that is contaminated with whipworm eggs. They are shaped like a whip with the front of them being very thin and the back thick which is where they get their name from. They generally live in the large intestine area where they feed on blood from the infected animal's intestinal wall.
Roundworm
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Roundworms are one of the most common types of worms to frequently infect pets and are especially common amongst puppies and kitten. Animals will become infected after being exposed to worm eggs or other animals that are carrying eggs from one location to the next. Some dogs may be exposed to eggs in certain outdoor areas where other dogs have gone to the toilet. Cats can be infected through prey they hunt that has already contracted eggs and larvae from roundworms.
Tapeworm
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Tapeworms are a common parasite that is typically passed from a flea to your pet. Fleas will firstly ingest tapeworm eggs and then inside the flea the new tapeworm will produce. Once the flea is on your pet it can be common for an animal to eat a flea while trying to rid the itch and groom itself. This then passes the tapeworm onto the animal as it will then develop and feed in the pets intestine. Tapeworms are different in the way that they don't have a mouth and actually proceed to feed through their skin.
Hookworm
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Hookworms can cause serious problems in pets such as anemia and diarrhea. Hookworms attatch themselve to the wall of the intestine and feed on the animal's blood. Pets can first become infected from consuming soil or water that is contaminated or by eating a transport host that is infected.
The Signs
- Worms visible in pets vomit or stool
- Itchy area around the back area
- Tired
- Loss of weight
- Bloody diarrhea
- Poor hair coat
- Animal will become weak
- Vomiting may occur in pets that are infested with roundworms
The Preventatives
Heartgard Plus
Heartgard Plus chewables containing the active ingredients Ivermectin and Pyrante
l, are given monthly for the prevention of heartworm disease caused by the heartworm worm. Unfortunately it does not treat other gastro-intestinal worms such as whipworm or tapeworms, so most vets recommended treating with a separate gastro-intestinal wormer every 3 months to control these other worms. Other heartwormers available also include Generic Heartgard, Valuheart, Proheart, Revolution, Advocate and dimmitrol tabs.
Advocate 
Advocate is a great all rounder for protecting pets from unwanted external and internal parasites. The product not only kills fleas but prevents heartworm, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm. Advocate is to be used monthly as a spot on topical treatment. It is recommended to use a tape worm preventative in conjunction with using Advocate such as Virbac.
Drontal Plus 
Drontal Plus is a tablet for the control of all gastrointestinal worms in dogs including roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm (including hydatid tapeworm). Drontal Plus for dogs is a tablet formulation of three distinctly different proven drugs offering the broadest spectrum of activity in controlling intestinal worms. It is recommended to use this product with a heartworming product such as heartgard plus.
Canex Multispectrum Allwormer 
Canex for Dogs is a multispecturm all-wormer palatable tablet for the control of all gastrointestinal worms in dogs including roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm (including hydatid tapeworm). It is again recommended to use this product with a heartworming product such as heartgard plus.
Virbac tabs
Virbac is specificially formulated to prevent tape worm from infecting your pet. It is a great product to use with all rounder protectors such as advocate to ensure your pet is completely safe from any external or internal parasites.
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