We know you have enough to worry about during these testing times, so make sure a worm infestation isn’t added to your worries. Worms have the potential to cause serious health problems for both pets and people. But do you really need to worm your dog? Ask yourself these questions to find out...
Does my dog go outside?
While COVID-19 has caused restrictions* across the country, we’re still able to take our dogs out for walks and exercise. While this is important to keep our dogs fit and healthy, it also means they could pick up worms. Worm eggs are released into the environment via a pet’s faeces. Worm eggs can remain infective in the environment for months after they’ve been shed, putting pets and people at risk. Roundworm eggs are particularly sticky, meaning they easily attach to our dog’s paws or nose, and can later be ingested during grooming. But don’t worry, worm eggs in fresh faeces are not infective or dangerous, so you don’t need to worry about picking up and disposing of your pet’s poo. Doing so helps keep the environment, and other pets and people safe.
Does your dog appear healthy with no signs of worms?
Your dog seems healthy and worm-free, so you don’t need to worry about worming… right? Unfortunately that’s not strictly true. Many signs and symptoms of worms aren’t noticeable, so your dog could be carrying worms without you realising. The most obvious signs, such as seeing worms in faeces, often indicate a heavy worm burden that your dog has been suffering with for months.
Do you want to protect yourself and your family?
Roundworms are ‘zoonotic’, meaning they can be passed from animals to people. If your dog has roundworms, then you and your family are also at risk. Roundworm infestations have been linked to blindness and asthma in children.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to worm!
Regular worming is the easiest way to protect your dog and your family from worms. Adult dogs should be wormed at least once every three months to prevent a worm infestation.
You can find out more about worms and worming your dog on the Beaphar website.
Make worming easy with Beaphar WORMclear®
It’s no longer necessary to visit a vet for an effective worming treatment. Vet strength wormers, such as Beaphar WORMclear® Tablets for Dogs, are available from pet shops and online. The tablets kill roundworms and tapeworms in one simple dose, and the delicious, meaty flavour means most dogs will eat them right out your hand.
As a veterinary medicine, Beaphar WORMclear® is fully licensed and regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). All licensed medicines have a Vm number on the pack so you can buy the product with confidence.
For more information on Beaphar WORMclear®, visit beaphar.com/worm
Use medicines responsibly (noah.co.uk)
*This blog was written in February 2021, and refers to COVID restrictions in place at the time of writing.