Since our pets are exposed to parasites through various sources, it is nearly impossible to prevent them from coming into contact with worm eggs or  larvae. Worming is important both for your pet’s health and for lowering the risk of contaminating the environment and infecting the family (zoonosis). 

Regular worming is vital if you want to prevent worms from endangering your pet’s health. In order to provide protection for your adult dogs, it is recommended to worm him at least once every three months up to once a month; the local parasite risks determine which treatment plan is suitable for your pet. Talk to your veterinarian for specific advice. 

Puppies may have been infected before birth, by larvae passed on through the womb, or they may have been infected immediately after birth, because the mother’s milk may contain worm larvae. That's why experts recommend starting treatment from 2 weeks of age (as long as they weigh at least 0.5 kg) and then treat again at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Nursing mothers should be treated at the same time as their puppies.  

You may not be able to tell if your pet has worms because it may not show obvious signs. That is why it is best to have a vet check your pet for worms regularly. However, there are some signs that may indicate that your pet has worms: 

• rubbing their bottom  on the floor 
• vomiting 
• diarrhoea or abnormally smelly stool 
• a dull coat 
• loss of appetite 
• lack of energy 
• a swollen belly i.e. pot-belly - particularly with puppies 
• breathing difficulties 
• coughing 
• any unusual behavioral changes 

If you look closely, you may occasionally see worms in your pet’s stool.  Worm eggs are microscopic, so they can’t be seen in your dog’s droppings. Puppies may have been infected before birth, by larvae passed on through the womb, or they may have been infected immediately after birth, because the mother’s milk may contain worm larvae. That's why experts recommend starting treatment from 2 weeks of age (as long as they weigh at least 0.5 kg) and then treat again at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Nursing mothers should be treated at the same time as their puppies.  

Pets can be infected with various types of worms. Dogs are susceptible to roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworm.

The most effective way to treat your dog for worms is by using a broad-spectrum wormer with efficacy against a wide variety of worms. Milbemax™ is a broad-spectrum wormer as it is highly effective against roundworms, hookworms, whipworm, and tapeworms. 

Milbemax™ is a broad-spectrum wormer, which means it is effective against all the main species of gut worms that can be found in your pet. Milbemax treats roundworms, hookworms, whipworm, and tapeworms. 

Fleas can carry certain species of tapeworm and pass them on. Therefore, if you only worm your pet without treating it for fleas, you run the risk that your pet is reinfected before long. The best way to keep your dog  free of fleas is by regularly applying an effective flea treatment such as Credelio™. Credelio™ is an effective and easy-to-give monthly oral tablet that kills ticks and fleas on dogs. 

Ticks are small parasites that feed on human and animal blood. Their bites can result in irritation or abscesses, and they can also transmit diseases. The paralysis tick is an especially serious parasite as it can cause severe paralysis and death. Worming does not protect against ticks. However, Credelio™ tick and flea treatment will provide that protection for your dog for one month after each treatment. 

Unfortunately, yes.  Infection can take place if  the microscopically small worm eggs are accidentally swallowed, for instance, because they have ended up on your hands by way of the floor. Worm larvae are the real problem, for they crawl through the human body from the intestines. If, for instance, the larvae end up in your eye, you could become blind. This is a rare risk, but if it occurs the consequences are devastating.   

Likewise, hookworm larvae can cause problems for people. If the larvae come into contact with bare skin, they burrow into the body, causing cutaneous larva migrans (CLM). Once they are in the skin, the larvae crawl around, resulting in itching, irritation and visible lesions or tracts on the skin. 

Even if it is uncommon, people can also be infected with tapeworm if they swallow an infected flea. This is why it is so important to minimise these risks by worming your dog regularly with Milbemax™. Adequate hygiene measures e.g. washing hands, regularly picking up your pet’s droppings etc. also form an important part of protecting your family from these nasty parasites.  

Yes, there is. Fleas can be infected with the larvae of the flea tapeworm. If your dog swallows an infected flea, it can develop  tapeworm infestation. 

That is just the problem: often times you can't. In many cases you will not be aware that there are worms living in your dog’s intestines. Adult tapeworms secrete segments that are filled with eggs. Those segments look like grains of rice in its stool and can cause your dog’s bottom to itch. As a result of this kind of irritation, you may notice that your dog is rubbing its bottom on the floor to lessen the itch. There are a few signs to look out for: vomiting, diarrhoea, a dull coat, decreased appetite, listlessness and, especially with puppies, a swollen belly. 

It is usually not obvious that your pet has worms. However, most pet owners feel that their pets are probably happier and healthier without parasitic worms in their bodies! Moreover, it makes sense to realise that these worms can also cause disease in humans. So, if you take good care of your pet, and worm it, this will help protect you and your family as well. 

While you can’t eliminate the risk of your dog from becoming infected with worms, there are several practical measures, such as regularly picking up their droppings, preventing them from hunting, regular flea control etc. that can help reduce the risk.  Another crucial way of protecting your dog is by regularly using an effective worming treatment like Milbemax™. This will ensure that your dog is adequately treated for uninvited guests. 

Yes, clearing your dog’s stool regularly lowers the risk considerably. One female roundworm (Toxocara canis) can lay up to 200,000 eggs per day¹! Every time  an infected dog poops, those eggs come out into the open. If droppings are not regularly disposed of,  those eggs remain in the environment so that other dogs, and  even people, can become infected.