The following signs can indicate worm-infections:
- Anaemia
- Blood in faeces
- Diarrhoea/Constipation
- Distended belly in young animals - 'Pot-belly'
- Irritation around the anus
- Lethargy
- Pneumonia
- Poor coat condition
- Severe infections in very young animals can lead to death
- Visible worms or tapeworm segments in faeces
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
Diagnosis
The best way to find out if your pet has worms is to have a sample of its faeces examined. The laboratory will study the sample under a microscope to look for eggs and larvae and will identify any they find. This will enable your vet to suggest a suitable worming schedule for your pet. Unfortunately, worms do not necessarily shed eggs every day so it is possible that the results of a faecal examination for parasites can be given as negative when the animal does in fact have a patent worm infection; this is known as a false negative. One way to guard against this is for faecal samples to be taken over 2 consecutive days.
As discussed in more detail in the Potential Health Risks section some worms can cause illness in both the host animal and other animals acting as intermediate or paratenic hosts, including man. Without conclusive identification by laboratory tests, it is not easy to distinguish a potentially dangerous worm from a harmless one.
In order to help prevent worms from becoming a problem Bayer would suggest that your adult pets be dewormed four times a year. Some animals, such as hunting cats, may need to be treated more frequently as they are more likely to develop a patent infection than one that prefers to sit by the fire all day. Young puppies and kittens that are still suckling need to be treated even more often. We would suggest that you ask your vet to recommend the most suitable treatment schedule for your pet. For more information look in our Treatment section.
