/parasites
Parasites
Think you know worms? Get the facts about intestinal worms in your cat or dog.
Worms are common parasites in cats and dogs, but how much do you really know about them? These common myths and corresponding facts will help you understand cat and dog worms, as well as the dangers they pose, the signs to look out for and how to keep your pet and family protected.
Myth: My indoor pets can’t get worms.
Fact: Your cat or dog can catch worms anywhere – even if they spend most of their time indoors.
Pets can catch worms anywhere as they are spread readily between animals without a need for direct face-to-face contact. Worms pass infective eggs or larvae in an animal’s faeces which contaminates the environment. Worms can be spread by domestic animals, wildlife, farm animals and even insects.
- Indoor pets can become exposed through things we bring into their home such as soil, clothing, and footwear, or even by feeding them raw or undercooked meat.
- Household pests like rodents, insects and lizards can enter the home and infect your indoor pet with worms if they hunt them.
- New puppies and kittens that have never been outside are not necessarily free of worms. They are at risk of being infected through their mother's milk whilst nursing.
- Indoor pets can even be exposed to worms whilst grooming if they accidentally ingest a flea which is hosting worm eggs or larvae.
Myth: Most worms reproduce slowly and have a complicated life cycle.
Fact: Some adult worms can produce 200,000 eggs per day! This can start as early as 3 weeks after the pet has become infected with them.
- Worm eggs can survive in the environment and remain infectious for several years which means there is long term contamination of your pet’s environment.
- Worm numbers in your pet can build up quickly which can lead to illness.
- The signs of worm infection are not always obvious. Some pets will not show obvious signs of sickness when they are infected but will still contaminate their environment with infective worm eggs and faeces. Even if your pet is not showing signs of illness when infected they will be putting other animals, and even humans, at risk of disease.
Myth: Only cats and dogs can get worms not people.
Fact: Worm infestations in your pet can threaten the health of you, your family and other people.
- Children are most at risk of getting worms from the cat or dog, as they're often in the closest contact with family pets. They also tend to spend a lot of time outside and can pick up worm eggs from contaminated soil. The cat and dog Toxocara species of roundworm can cause serious illness, including blindness, in children.
Myth: Lungworms rarely infect cats and aren’t that dangerous.
Fact: Lungworms can be dangerous for cats.
- Lungworm infection can cause serious health problems in cats and can be fatal.
- Cats can become infected after eating snails, slugs, earthworms, rodents, birds or reptiles that carry the lungworm parasite.
- Lungworms damage the lungs, causing breathing difficulties and coughing.
- Some cats show no symptoms, or only mild symptoms that can be mistaken for hairballs.
- Young, hunting or immunocompromised cats are most at risk from feline lungworm.
- Luckily, New Zealand does not have canine lungworm
Myth: It’s quite difficult to prevent worm infections in dogs and cats.
Fact: You can keep worms at bay by taking the following steps.
- Clean kennels and your pet’s bedding regularly.
- Clean up your pet’s poo from the yard and empty cat litter trays daily.
- Avoid feeding your pet raw meat or offal.
- Prevent pets from eating rodents, small animals and reptiles.
- Provide sufficient high-quality food and plenty of alternative activities to fill in their day to reduce your pet's drive to hunt.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly after playing with your pet and before eating.
- If you have a sandpit make sure it is covered when not in use.
Protect your pets with Advocate™. Pests such as fleas and mosquitoes can transmit worms, but you can keep these parasites under control with regular treatments from the Advantage Family range.
