Good hygiene practices remain the best way to protect your pets and the people that handle them against zoonotic diseases. The following tips, plus regular treatment for worms, should help to prevent worms from becoming a problem -

• Wash hands after handling animals, playing outside or gardening.

• Use separate feeding utensils for animals and humans.

• Children should be carefully supervised when handling unweaned puppies - remember that infective larvae can pass through a puppy and could potentially be ingested by a child.

• Do not allow animals to lick your face.

• Clean up after your pets - do not allow faeces to contaminate the environment.

• Do not allow your pets to scavenge.

• Always cook meat thoroughly.

• Do not feed raw meat, especially offal, to your pets.

• Regularly treat your pets for fleas.