Page 2 - Spring 2011

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The recent good weather has certainly heralded
Spring and this time of year also sees the release
of the Spring Edition of Small Talk. I do hope you
will enjoy the fascinating articles which appear
in this Edition. I certainly have learnt a lot about
the care of exotic pets, particularly Bearded
Dragons. For any client considering keeping an
exotic pet, be it a lizard, a snake or any other
of the more unusual pets, there is a multitude
of things to consider before embarking upon
their care.
Included we also have articles relating to our more
‘usual pets’, with a gentle reminder about how
important vaccination is to protect them against
potentially life threatening diseases. We also look
at why we should worm our pets and the
consequences of not doing so. Then the final
article touches on the irritating problem of fleas
in cats, like worms we may not actually see
them but they can cause untold misery to our
much loved companions if not dealt with.
So if you have a spare moment, when not
enjoying the sunshine with your pets, please
take a look at this Newsletter. If there are any
topics which you might want us to cover in
future articles why don’t you let your practice
know and maybe it will be covered in a
future edition.
Welcome...
WORMS DEAD!
by
Lucy Rivett BVSc, MRCVS
Summerhill Veterinary Centre
I
n the UK the two main groups of worms
that are a problem for dogs and cats are
roundworms and tapeworms.
Roundworms look like thin white earthworms
and can be up to 8cm in length. They may be
seen in vomit or in faeces. In dogs they are
passed from pet to pet via eggs in the faeces.
This is also the main route of transmission in
cats, but in addition they can be passed by an
intermediate host, such as a mouse (the mouse
eats the roundworm eggs, and the cat eats the
mouse) or via the milk from queen to kitten.
Large numbers in puppies and kittens can stunt
growth, and cause serious digestive upsets.
Tapeworms are made up of a head with a
segmented body. Mature segments can be seen
in faeces or around your pet's bottom, and look
like flattened grains of rice. In puppies and kittens
they can also cause stunted growth, digestive
upsets and occasionally can lead to intestinal
blockages, and even death. Tapeworms need an
intermediate host and so don't pass directly from
pet to pet. The intermediate host in one of the
commonest types of tapeworms is the flea. Flea
larvae eat tapeworm segments (which contain
tapeworm eggs), the larvae develops to an adult
and then is accidentally eaten by your pet while
they are grooming themselves. Therefore in order
to control worms, good flea control is extremely
important too.
Adult pets are often infected with few outward
signs, and owners often question why they need
to worm an animal that appears healthy. The
main reason is the small but very real risk of
transmission of certain worms to humans.This is
more common in children who are less good at
hand washing after handling pets. Although rare
there can be serious if not fatal consequences.
Over recent years lungworm in dogs (and to a
lesser extent in cats) has emerged as a potential
cause of disease. Dogs tend to show non
specific signs of lethargy and weight loss, but
can also have breathing and blood clotting
problems. The lifecycle is completed in an
intermediate host (either slugs or snails) and so
was previously restricted to certain areas of the
UK. However, now with a warmer, wetter climate,
slugs and snails can be seen more widely. Many
of the routine wormers are not effective against
lungworm and so, if you think your pet may be at
risk, speak to your vet practice for further advice.
Dogs and cats can be affected by many other
different types of worms, but heartworms,
hookworms and whipworms are usually only
seen when a pet has travelled abroad. Always
seek advice prior to foreign travel.
The frequency of worming depends on a number
of factors. As a general rule puppies and kittens
should be wormed every 2-4 weeks until they
reach six months of age. Then adults should
be wormed at least every three months for the
rest of their life. Struggling with tablets is no
longer necessary as there are lots of different
worming preparations available such as
'spot-ons', liquids, injections, pastes,
granules and 'treats'. For tailor made
advice for your pet and household speak
to a vet or nurse at your local practice.
DID YOU KNOW...
Bearded Dragons c
up to 24 inches lon
DID Y
Verity J. Griffiths BSc(Hons), MA, VetMB, GPCert(SAS), MRCVS,
Southfield Veterinary Centre
Worming dogs and cats is something that every pet
owner knows that they should do. However people are
often unsure which worms to target, how frequently to
do it and why they need to if their pet appears well.
For eve
ther
poten
variou
yo