How to Keep Your PetFree of Parasites

Roundworms

Did you know?

What are they?

Roundworm

Internal parasites that live in the animal’s small intestine. Worms produce nearly 25,000 eggs per day and can remain viable in the environment for years making the risk for environmental contamination high.

How do they spread?Pets become infected when worms or eggs from the environment are consumed. Kittens or puppies can be infected by nursing from their mother and bitches can also infect their unborn puppies during pregnancy. Infection can also spread when pets are digging or when the eat prey like rats or mice - which can also carry the parasite.

SymptomsWeight loss, diarrhea or a pot-belly. Severity depends on the burden of eggs or worms and can even cause death.

This parasite can infect humans and can cause: nausea. vomiting. irregular stools, diarrhea, intestinal blockage which causes severe pain and vomiting, loss of appetite, visible worms in the stool, abdominal discomfort or pain and weight loss.

Did you know?Sheep Measles (Taenia ovis) is the most prevalent tapeworm in New Zealand. This worm does not have significant human health consequences.

Its presence is a major cause of down grading carcasses at the meat works.

Because of this, all pet owners should be responsible by keeping pets worm free.

Tapeworm

What is it?There are various types of tapeworm but the most common is the flea tapeworm.

SymptomsWhile unsightly, infections with tapeworms do not cause clinical disease in cats or dogs. Worm segments in poo look like ‘rice grains’.

Did you know?Humans can also be infected by accidental ingestion of infective larvae or, more commonly, by direct skin penetration.

Children tend to be more at risk if playing in contaminat-ed areas which often accompanies a lack of hygiene.

In people, hookworm larvae cause red, itchy, ‘snake’ like lesions on the skin from their attempts to burrow.

Hookworms

What is it?The hookworm species can infect both cats and dogs but more commonly affects dogs.

SymptomsThe most common sign is irritation of paws as the larvae penetrate the skin and cause a severe skin reaction. Puppies and kittens are most at risk because the parasite attach to the wall of the intestines and feed on blood. This can cause anaemia, weakness, and even death in severe infections.

How does it spread?The transmission route varies. The most common is infection through ingestion of larvae or penetration of larvae through the skin. However, transmission to puppies via milk or the ingestion of an infected host (such as a rodent) can also cause disease.

Whipworms

Fleas Furry Facts

Did you know?

What is it?The only way a dog can contract whipworms is by ingesting the eggs. When a dog walks on ground infected by eggs, they are picked up on the paws and travel into the mouth when they lick paws or any contaminated toys or food bowls.

Within one to three months after the eggs are swallowed, they hatch in the dog’s intestine, attach to the wall and begin to suck blood and lay eggs.

An adult flea represents only 5% of the latent flea population.

Spotting an adult flea is just seeing the tip of the iceberg...

Immature flea stages in the environment represent 95%of the total flea population

SymptomsA common sign of infection is ‘scooting’ which is when the dog drags its bottom along the ground. This is because adult worms have laid eggs which causes intense itching. Bloody diarrhoea, weight loss, flatulence and low energy are common signs indicating more severe infections.

Whipworm eggs can survive extreme exterior conditions for months and even years.

Luckily, whipworm infection in humans is extremely rare.

1A flea can jump up to 33 cm high, the equivalent of you jumping over a skyscraper!

2A female flea can lay 30-40 eggs per day adding up to around 2,000 eggs in her lifetime

3A female flea consumes 15 times her own weight in blood per day

4It can take 7 seconds for a flea to hatch, jump onto its prey and start feeding

Flea eggs

Flea pupaeFlea adult

Flea larva50%

35%

5%10%

The Problem?Fleas cause skin irritation and some pets are allergic to flea saliva.

If your pet swallows a flea infected with a tapeworm larvae it can grow inside the dog or cat causing unsightly side effects.

Life Cycleof a Flea

Fleas rest in the animal’s fur and drop out eggs where the animal rests or sleeps. Fleas grow through 4 phases: eggs (2-14 days), larvae, pupae (larvae building their cocoons) and adults.

Fleas can hatch after 5-14 days or can stay dormant in their cocoon for an entire year before hatching. Noise or vibration will stimulate the flea to hatch.

Once they have hatched, adult fleas must feed on blood of a host within a week.

The flea life cycle begins when the adult flea lays eggs in the pets coat

The eggs drop off as the pet moves around the home

Within a few days the eggs hatch into larvae

Pupae develop before hatching as new adult fleas to complete the cycle

The Treatment• Get advice from a vet on the most efficient product to use.

• A single flea is reason enough for treatment.

• Treat all pets of the household all year round.

• Vacuum areas where pets have rested.

• Hot wash the pet’s beddings weekly for 4 weeks.

Fleas

What You Need To Know

How Often?

A Closer Look

You must have an accurate weight for your pet prior to worming to ensure the correct dosage is given. This will give the maximum effect and reduce the risk of worms developing resistance to treatment.

Kittens2-12 weeks old Worm every 2 weeks 12 weeks – 6 monthsWorm every monthFrom 6 monthsWorm every three months (depending on lifestyle).

Pregnant QueensTreat after 3 weeks of pregnancy and then every 3 weeks until kittens are weaned.

Pregnant and Lactating QueensTreat at mating and before birth of kittens, then three monthly thereafter.

Puppies2-12 weeksWorm every 2 weeks 12 weeks – 6 monthsWorm every monthFrom 6 monthsWorm every three months.

Working DogsWorm monthly to prevent transfer of tapeworm to sheep (different products available).

Pregnant andLactating bitchesWorm prior to mating, 10 days before whelping, then every 3 weeks while lactating.

Not all animal worm treatments are created equal. Make sure the wormer being used is effective against the right worms.

Regular worming should be carried out throughout the entire life of your pet. This is to ensure your pet remains disease free and also to minimise the chances of worm infections being passed on to humans.

Which product?There are many products available to treat worm burdens - and now some have the dual purpose oftreating flea infections concurrently.

Some of the newer generation flea products on the market claim to provide worming for your dogs as well as flea treatment. This is true in the most part but you must be aware that if you are using one of these products to flea and worm your dog and cat, you should still worm your dog and cat with a worm tablet that contains a tapewormer at least annually because these combination products do not specifically target tapeworms.

For true flea and worm control, products must be used all year round.

Ever wondered what VetEnt stands for?

It’s short for Veterinary Enterprises Ltd, a group of over 21 vet clinics around New Zealand.

Find your nearest clinichttp://www.vetent.co.nz/locations.html

Not all animalworm treatmentsare created equalIt’s important the wormer being used is effective against the full range of worms you need to be protect your pet from.

If you have any doubt about worming your pet, contact

VetEnt for expert advice

Adult Cat Worm every three months. Adult Dog Worm every three months.