Health

Dogs and cats

Intestinal worms

Roundworms and tapeworms are common in dogs and cats and often cause no obvious signs in adults. They can make puppies and kittens seriously ill, and some, such as roundworms and the fox tapeworm (Echinococcus), can infect people. Regular worming and good hygiene protect pets and families.

What you might notice

• Weight loss or poor growth.
• Pot belly in puppies and kittens.
• Diarrhoea or vomiting.
• Scooting or licking the bottom.
• Small white rice-like segments in the fur, bedding or stools.

Common causes

• Puppies and kittens infected from their mother.
• Swallowing worm eggs from soil, grass or faeces.
• Hunting or eating rodents, carcasses or raw offal.
• Fleas, which spread one type of tapeworm.

What you can do at home

• Pick up dog faeces daily and dispose of them in the bin.
• Wash hands after handling pets, faeces or soil.
• Keep children's sandpits covered.
• Bring a stool sample if your vet asks for one.

Book a vet in the next day or two if

• You see worms or segments in stools or fur.
• A puppy or kitten is not growing well or has a pot belly.
• Diarrhoea or weight loss in a pet.
• You need a worming plan matched to your pet's lifestyle.

Don't

• Do not rely on herbal or home remedies for worms.
• Do not let pets eat carcasses, faeces or raw offal.
• Do not compost dog or cat faeces or put them near food crops.

Prevention

• Worm puppies and kittens regularly from a few weeks old, as your vet advises.
• Worm adult pets regularly, often at least four times a year if risk is unknown.
• Control fleas to prevent flea tapeworm.
• Freeze or cook raw meat thoroughly, or feed commercial food.

This guide gives general information about common health problems in dogs and cats. It is not a diagnosis and it does not replace an examination by a veterinarian. Every animal is different, and signs that look mild can sometimes hide a serious problem, especially in cats, which often hide illness and pain. If you are worried about your pet, or if your pet shows any of the warning signs listed here, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic straight away. Never give your pet human medicines or any medicine not prescribed for that animal by a vet.