Even the mention of worms makes us squirm, so we can only imagine what it must be like for our small friends to suffer from a case of “worms”. The good news is that this can be easily avoided just by regularly worming your small friend.

What is worming?
Worming is giving medicine to prevent and/or treat intestinal worm infestation in your small friend.

Why worm my small friend?
Intestinal worms can cause many different problems for your small friend, ranging from diarrhoea and intestinal upsets, to weight loss, poor growth, swollen belly, anaemia, and in severe cases even death. Some intestinal worms are zoonotic, that is they can be transmitted from animals to humans.

What worms should I worm against?
When worming your dog you should ensure your worming treatment covers hookworm, tapeworm, whipworm and roundworm.

When worming your cat you should ensure your worming tablet covers hookworm, tapeworm and roundworm.

Small Friends Veterinary Hospital carries worming treatments for both cats and dogs. The wormers we stock are different from those available from supermarkets and pet shops in that they are stronger and therefore more effective at protecting your small friend.

What about heartworm?
Heartworm causes a debilitating disease in dogs and therefore all dogs should be protected against it. Worming requirements against heartworm need to be tailored to your dog’s age and heartworm status. Therefore it is best to discuss this with Dr Matt at your next visit to Small Friends Veterinary Hospital.

When should I worm my small friend against intestinal worms?
Pups wormed every two weeks from 2 weeks of age until they are 3 months old. Then wormers are given every month until they are six months old. Worming is then reduced to once every three months for life.

Kittens should be wormed every two weeks from 2 weeks of age until they are 8 weeks old. Worming is then repeated at 12 weeks old, and then once every three months for life.

Why is more frequent worming required when my small friend is young?
Kittens and puppies have less natural resistance to intestinal worm infestation than adult animals; therefore they need to be wormed more frequently. There are no antibodies against worms passed from a mother to her kittens/puppies, this is why it is important to worm your small friend as described above from 2 weeks of age.

Should I worm all my small friends at the same time?
Yes, as this protects against cross contamination from one small friend to another.

Should I worm the family as well?
Worming your human family members should be done regularly, as advised by your family doctor.

My small friend is difficult to worm what should I do?
Cats in particular can be difficult to tablet. At Small Friends Veterinary Hospital we sell the smallest worming tablet available for cats. If your small friend is particularly difficult to worm we will worm him for you (and teach you how) when you come to purchase your worming treatment.

Alternatively, we now have a spot-on product that will treat all three intestinal worms in cats. This product is applied to the skin, which means that you no longer have to struggle with ‘difficult-to-worm’ feline small friends.

Do I need to make an appointment to purchase wormers for my small friend?
Wormers can be purchased from Small Friends Veterinary Hospital at any time during business hours. If you need help worming your small friend please call Small Friends Veterinary Hospital on 02 6262 2233 before arriving.

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