While having a pet can be great fun, it can also come with a lot of responsibility and some gross chores, like deworming your dog or cat. It's one of the least glamorous aspects of pet ownership that is at the same time one of the most important. This worm, invisible most of the time under all the protection and cover that they have in our puppies and kittens, can have such a strong influence on their health and happiness.
In a country like India, where the multiplication of parasites is very high in the atmosphere due to particular weather and climatic conditions, it is our responsibility as a loving and caring guardian to take care of our pets.
Deworming our pets is one of the most effective ways of giving them longer lives in excellent health‚ and once we know how to tackle this silent killer in India‚ we can keep the scourge at bay․
Why It Matters More Than People Think
- Wormy Pets․ A wormy pet looks terribly thin and has a dull coat, although it may still be eating well.
- Heavy Loads Are Dangerous in the Young․ Severe infestations can kill puppies and kittens․
- They Interfere With Vaccination: A wormy animal is immunosuppressed and will not respond appropriately to a vaccine. Deworming is what makes the shots work․
- Some Worms Pass To Humans: Roundworm and hookworm can infect humans, especially children who spend more time crawling or lying on the floor. That is why deworming is as much a family issue as it is a pet issue․
The Schedule For Puppies And Kittens
- 2 Weeks: first dose
- 4 Weeks: repeat
- 6 Weeks: repeat
- 8 Weeks: repeat
- 10 and 12 Weeks: repeat every two weeks
- 3 to 6 Months: once a month
- After 6 Months: move to the adult schedule
The two-week gap is deliberate. Most dewormers kill adult worms but not eggs or larvae, so the repeat dose catches the next generation before it matures.
The Schedule For Adult Dogs And Cats
- Every 3 months for most pets
- Every month for pets with heavy outdoor exposure, those who eat off the street, or homes with young children
- Every 6 months may be enough for a strictly indoor cat with no outdoor contact
Your vet may adjust the recommendation based on your city, your pet's habits and a stool test.
Signs Your Pet Has Worms
- Visible worms or rice-like segments in stool or around the rear
- A pot-bellied look, especially in puppies
- Weight loss despite a healthy appetite
- Dull coat and low energy
- Diarrhoea, sometimes with blood or mucus
- Vomiting, occasionally with worms visible
- Scooting the bottom along the floor
- Coughing in heavy roundworm infections
Plenty of infected pets show no signs at all. That is precisely why you deworm on schedule instead of waiting for symptoms.
The Common Worms in India
- Roundworms: The most common, especially in young animals. It can be passed to humans through the animal's faeces.
- Hookworms: blood suckers that cause anaemia. They penetrate human skin and are found in contaminated soil.
- Tapeworms: usually caught by swallowing an infected flea. Flea control and deworming are closely linked.
- Whipworms: Whipworms live in the large intestine and lead to chronic diarrhoea.
- Heartworm: A serious disease transmitted by mosquitoes․ It is most popular in coastal or humid areas․ Special medication is available to prevent heartworm․ Ask your vet if heartworm is a concern in your area․
Practical Tips
- Weigh Before You Dose: deworming tablets are dosed by weight, and guessing is how pets get too little to work or too much to be safe.
- Administer the medication with or after food for most products, unless your vet advises otherwise.
- Expect some loose motion for a day: ongoing diarrhoea or vomiting requires a call to the vet.
- Treat All Pets In The House Together: doing one at a time just recycles the problem.
- Pair It With Flea Control: because tapeworms come from fleas, treating for fleas and tapeworms together is necessary.
- Clean up promptly: this includes picking up the stool that day‚ washing bedding on the hot cycle‚ and cleaning the terrace or balcony․
- Wash hands: make sure to wash your hands and your children's hands after playing outside․
- Keep a Record: write the date on the vaccination card so that you are not guessing three months later.
A Note On Dosing
Do not use human deworming medicine on pets, and do not use a dog product on a cat. Some ingredients that are safe for dogs are toxic to cats. Buy from a vet or a proper pharmacy, check the expiry, and confirm the dose for your pet's current weight rather than last year's.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 Can I deworm my pet at home?
Yes, if it's a vet-approved product at the appropriate weight-based dose. It's usually best to let the vet administer the first dose if the puppy is a recent rescue․
2 Deworming side effects․ Do they exist?
Typically, side effects are mild, such as soft stool or slight tiredness for a day; however, you should call your vet if you experience anything more severe.
3 My cat never goes out. Does she still need it?
Yes, though less often. Fleas, insects and anything carried in on shoes can still bring worms in.
