Endoparasite control in your pets

By Dr Samantha Matthews, DVM (Hons) of Trinity Animal Clinic

An endoparasite is a parasite that lives inside its host, whereas an ectoparasite lives on the outside. Both of these parasites can cause harm to your animals, and you should set up a regimen to treat and prevent them.

Our companion animals are most susceptible to these parasites and may act as hosts for other diseases or parasites. For example, did you know that fleas are vectors for tapeworms? If your pet has fleas, it will most likely have tapeworms!

Let’s talk endoparasites

The most common endoparasites are tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Infection occurs through consuming eggs, larvae, or worms from infected soil, grass, or faeces. Once ingested, these worms reside in the intestines of your animals and eventually are shed in their faeces.

The most common signs of a high worm burden are:

1. “Scooting” (dragging the rear end on the floor)

2. Vomiting and eating grass

3. Inappetence

4. Poor weight gain even though eating, and sometimes even weight loss

5. Diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea

Upon inspection of the faeces, you can sometimes visualise the worms, or you may see what appears to be rice grains in the faeces. If any of these are seen, your pet should be dewormed.

What dewormer to use?

There are numerous options for companion animals for endoparasite control, most of which are very reasonable and can be purchased at your veterinarian, animal stores, and pharmacies islandwide. Your choice of dewormer should be dependent on the age of your animal, breed, diet, and pregnancy/ nursing status.

Some of the dewormers available locally include:

● Endovet®-CES

● Pyrantel

● Fenbendazole (Panacur)

● Nexgard Spectra

● Ivermectin

The safest dewormer for puppies, kittens, and pregnant animals is Pyrantel. If your pet is fed a raw diet, it is imperative to ensure prompt deworming is done every month. Additionally, some dog breeds are sensitive to some of the dewormers used, so your vet should be consulted BEFORE deciding on the dewormer for your pet. For example, Collie breed dogs are sensitive to Ivermectin and should not be given ivermectin or products containing ivermectin such as Endovet®-CES. Your choice of dewormer should also be rotated every year to prevent resistance from developing.

An important point to note is that all dewormers don’t cover all types of worms.

Fenbendazole treats hookworms, whipworms, and one type of roundworm.

Pyrantel treats some hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms, but not all.

Endovet ®-CES, however, does treat all types of worms.

How to develop a deworming regimen?

Deworming of companion animals usually begins at 4-6 weeks of age. It should occur every month – 3 months, depending on the dewormer used. Deworming medication is based on your pet’s weight, so you must make sure you have an idea of how heavy they are so they get the appropriate dosage. Incorrect dosing can lead to your animal developing resistance to the dewormer.

Can humans get worms from pets?

The answer to this question is YES! Especially young children who may not practice proper handwashing techniques or frequently put their hands in their mouths. Also, persons emptying cat litter trays or cleaning up any faeces. In your household, if you have pets, you should subject all persons to annual deworming.