Don’t get yourself tied up treating worms

Worm infestation is common in dogs and cats and can cause distress and ill health particularly in puppies and kittens.

Animals can become infected at any time and therefore routine treatment is strongly recommended for the parasitic worms commonly found in pet dogs and cats.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms attach themselves to the intestine lining and then mature segments breakaway and may be seen in the faeces or around the base of a pet’s tail. Tapeworms do not usually develop in young puppies and kittens, but it’s recommended to treat dogs and cats from the age of six months.

Tapeworm infestation is not always obvious, but can lead to a poor coat, poor condition and weight loss. If pets lick around their tails continuously or rub their bottoms on the floor, this can be a sign of infestation.

Roundworms

There are various types of roundworms. They are similar to earthworms in shape, but thinner and shorter, from 1 – 8cm in length. Roundworms live in the animal’s stomach and intestines and their eggs are passed whole in the animal’s faeces or vomit. If left untreated, worms can cause poor condition, illness and even death.

Puppies and kittens may have roundworms from birth and should be treated every two weeks, up to the age of six months and beyond. Pregnant and nursing animals should also be treated regularly for worms.

Hookworms

Hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal lining, where they feed on pet’s blood. They release eggs in pet’s faeces, which hatch into larvae that live in soil. Pets can get infected through ingesting worm eggs from contaminated soil or when grooming.

The blood loss caused by Hookworms can be a serious threat, especially in puppies, and typically shows as regular bouts of diarrhoea and weight loss. Puppies should be treated for hookworms regularly according to their lifestyle, due to the very high rate of hookworm infection in new-born puppies.

Flea Facts!

  • Dogs and cats typically pick up fleas from contact with infested animals, such as other dogs and cats, or wildlife, such as birds, rodents and hedgehogs.
  • Serious infestation can quickly occur in summer months, but thanks to warm homes with central heating and fitted carpets, fleas are now a year-round problem.
  • Often, pets can become allergic to flea saliva, which will lead to inflamed skin, sores and even loss of coat.

How to tell if a pet has fleas

Common signs of flea infestation include:

  • constant scratching
  • biting or licking of the coat
  • twitching of back muscles
  • obvious skin and coat problems
  • black specks in the fur
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Treatments for pets and the home

Johnson’s produce a range of affordable, highly effective, veterinary-strength flea control products, that not only kill the fleas on your pets, but can prevent flea eggs hatching, thanks to the inclusion of an insect growth regulator (IGR).

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