Deworming

Dewormers are used to prevent and eliminate intestinal worms in pets. These worms can sometimes be well tolerated by animals, but can also cause digestive problems and significant weight loss. Some can also be transmitted to humans. At Timberlea Veterinary Clinic, we recommend deworming your pets on a regular basis to avoid a significant presence of worms in their digestive system.

How can my pet become infected with intestinal worms?

All animals that go outdoors run the risk of developing worms. There are different types of intestinal worms, and they develop in different ways. In general, pets get worms by eating another infected animal or insect, such as fleas, mice, birds, etc. They can also often get worms by eating soil soiled with animal feces, or by licking their paws after walking on soiled ground.

What are the symptoms of intestinal worms?

A small quantity of worms in the intestine may not cause any symptoms in the animal. When the infestation is more serious, diarrhea (with or without blood), weight loss, vomiting, worms in the stool, etc. may be observed.

How can you tell if your pet has intestinal worms?

The presence of intestinal worms can be detected by a simple in-clinic stool analysis. If the presence of worms is detected, your vet will prescribe a dewormer for your pet.

How can you prevent intestinal worms?

Regular deworming eliminates worms from your pet's intestines. In this way, worms can't reproduce to any great extent, and infestation is avoided. It's important to know that deworming has no preventive effect; it only eliminates the worms as they develop. That's why you need to deworm your pet on a regular basis, two to four times a year for adults. The frequency will be different for kittens and puppies, as well as for pregnant adult females. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate frequency of deworming for your pet's needs and lifestyle.