The Most Common Worms In Cats And Dogs

Pictures, descriptions, and symptoms of some of the most common worms your cat or dog is likely to have.

Roundworms

Roundworms affect nearly all puppies and kittens.  The worms are passed to the young animals through the mothers milk.  Cats and Dogs pick up the worms by ingesting contaminated soil, insects, or infected animals.

If your kitten or puppy has a severe case of Roundworms they may have appear pot-bellied and have a dull coat. They may also have diarrhoea,  they may cough and lose their appetite.  It is also possible to see mucus in their stool, or even worms in the stool or vomit.

It is normally recommended that all kittens and puppies are given a worm dose.

Tapeworms

Probably the most common of worms found in cats or dogs is the Tapeworm. Especially in areas where there is a high flea population.

The Tapeworm requires the flea as an intermediate host.  Cats and dogs ingest infected fleas while grooming giving the worm a free ride into its primary host.

Tapeworms are made up of a chain of small segments, each containing hundreds of eggs.  These segments break away when mature and are passed out of the host in stools.

The Tapeworm itself can grow up to a foot in length and can be detected when the segments are found in a litter box, in the fur around your pets anal area, or in their bed.  The segments look like dried rice.  Large infestations cause diarrhoea, possibly blood, and cause a partial blockage.  If you are treating your pet for fleas it is best to also treat for Tapeworm.

Hookworms

The Hookworm is a more serious case.  A Hookworm infection can cause severe anaemia.  Look for signs such as diarrhoea, weight loss, vomiting, unrest, and a lack of energy.  In very young kittens the worms can cause a sudden collapse and death.

The tiny worms are not visible in the stool and can only be identified by a microscopic examination.  The animals are infected by consuming  eggs found in faeces or by the worm larvae penetrating the skin.  They can be treated as with the other worms.

Heartworms

Heatworms are a blood parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. The mosquitoes transfer baby worms when they bite. (picture of worms to ugly to include- click the mosquito to see heartworms)

More common in dogs but heartwoms also infect cats.  Called heartworms because they travel through the body until they reach the heart where they mature and shed microfilaria into the blood stream.

A severely infected animal will suffer from reduced blood circulation and heart function. Cats will often show little sign (any sign is likely to be intermittent vomiting) until they collapse and die.

For cats to become infected they must live in an area where there are microfilariae infected dogs, and mosquitoes that have a taste for both dogs and cats.  Heartworms will require a specific treatment.

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Stop Your Dog from Chewing

Stopping your dog from chewing everything in sight.

It is only natural for dogs to want to chew.
It is a natural instinct, but they need to be trained what they can and can’t chew without causing problems.
While they might feel the need to sharpen their teeth you certainly don’t want them to be doing that on your furniture.

It is a lot cheaper to invest some money in suitable toys that the dog can chew or get their teeth cleaned professionally than to replace expensive household items.

The simplest method of training a dog not to chew everything in sight is to confine it to a small area where only those things that it should be allowed to chew are present.

The dog will then become accustomed to the smell of those things that it is allowed to chew and then when it is allowed out into the household where other items are present you can teach it not to chew items such as furniture, shoes, clothing, etc.

It is also possible to teach an old dog not to chew items by using the same techniques although it is harder if it has been doing this for many years of its life.

It is always preferable to teach your dog the lessons they need to know as soon as possible as training gets harder with the age of the dog.

If the dog is going to be left inside for extended periods while you’re not around it is wise to remove any items that you don’t want it to chew until it is fully trained.
Until that time, the dog should be content with suitable chewing toys.

Earth Friendly Pet Training Stop Chewing Aid for Dogs and Cats

Doc Ackerman’s Herbal Excessive Chewing Formula for Dogs and Cats

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Dog Food Shocking Revelations

Shocking Dog Food Revelations

The Shocking Truth About What Goes In To Dog Food…

It is WORSE than you thought !!

VIEW THIS SHOCKING VIDEO NOW – Not suitable for the ears of young children or dogs !!!

Would you feed other people’s dead pets to your dog?

Would you feed diseased by products to your loved pet?

Would you feed Road kill to your dog?

Unless you prepare your own dog food there is NO way of escaping this disgusting practise. This is standard industry procedure in the world of pet food.

If you are as appalled as I am at the thought of what THEY want you to feed your dog then TAKE ACTION TODAY. Start preparing your own dog food. It is not hard and with some resources like the ones below it can even be Fun.

Remember the saying “You Are What You Eat”?
Have you wondered why your dog’s behaviour isn’t very good?
Pumping your dog full of toxic chemicals can effect not only their health but also their behaviour.

Extend your Dog’s life, giving them health and happiness for many years to come.
Don’t they deserve the best?

Today’s blog is short and too the point because when I discovered exactly what goes into dog food and the shocking loopholes allowed in pet food labelling, I just had to let you know.

“In battling evil, excess is good; for he who is moderate in announcing the truth is presenting half-truth. He conceals the other half out of fear of the people’s wrath.”
Kahlil Gibran

Buy This and …Get This Free

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Foods Not To Feed Your Cat

There are several foods that you should never feed your cat, as they will not only make it feel unwell but in some instances can be extremely detrimental to its health and well-being.

One of the biggest problems people have is when there is a dog in the house and the cat eats the dog food.
Dog food is nutritionally undervalued for cat’s requirements, as it does not contain enough protein or taurine to meet the cat’s nutritional needs.
If the cat eats dog food on a regular basis it will become unwell.

Many people will also feed their cat the scraps from their own dinner and once again the food that we eat is not of the correct nutritional balance that is sufficient to ensure that the cat has optimal health.

Just as chocolate is toxic to dogs, the same applies to cats and you should ensure that you never give your cat chocolate to eat otherwise it could become very ill and even die.

Don’t give your cat bones as they can splinter and get caught in their throat and intestinal track.
This can cause a lot of damage or serious injury.

It is well worth investing your money in your cat’s health by giving it a recommended and nutritionally balanced diet that will have the right proportions of protein and other vitamins and minerals that are required for it to stay healthy.

There should always be a supply of fresh water available for your cat to drink, particularly if you are feeding it dry food where most of the moisture has been taken out.
Cats will need fresh water to replace this moisture after having eaten dry food.
It is better to feed canned food that is a lot moister and reduces the incidence of constipation.

For more information check out my Healthy Cat Food Guide.

Do Feed Your Cat These Foods:

Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Canned Cat Food – Chicken & Tuna 5.5 oz. Can – Case of 24 Home-cooked taste with high quality nutrition, these chunky stew formulas are made with real meat, poultry and healthy fruits and vegetables.

Topini Cat Treats Forified with ten vitamins and minerals plus Taurine (an essential nutrient for cat’s eyes, heart and reproductive systems), these treats are delicious and help supplement a cats diet. No artificial flavors. Size: 1.15oz. Flavor: Cheese. Additional flavors available.

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