Deworming

Worms and parasites can live inside your furry friends and cause serious health issues. Deworming is a simple measure to keep your pets safe throughout their lives. When you deworm your pets you protect the other members of your family from harm. Some parasites can be passed from animals to humans and cause serious health issues. Common worms in pets include whipworm, tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms and heartworms to name a few.

What are signs that my pet has worms?

Pets suffering from a worm infestation may have sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, bloated stomach, vomiting, bloody stool, abdominal pain and diarrhea or softer stool. In some instances these signs only present themselves when a worm infestation is well advanced. For this reason, we strongly encourage owners to have their pets regularly checked for worms. To schedule a checkup for your pet call us at 613-433-3100.

How are worms diagnosed in pets?

When trying to detect worms in pets our veterinarians look for worm eggs. Our team will examine a sample of your pet’s stool with a microscope. Other worms such as heartworms need other tests such as bloodwork to be detected. Tapeworms don’t require testing or a microscope as they can be seen with the naked eye.

What’s the best way to protect my pet from worms?

Prevention is the best form of medicine you can give your pets. Prevention medication needs to be followed thoroughly and should begin when your pet is a puppy or kitten, even if their mother is dewormed. Deworming medication can be given through liquids, injections, tablets or topical creams.