When your adult pet is infected with roundworms--the most common intestinal parasite in both dogs and cats--you might not notice until the pet regurgitates a long, white spaghetti-like worm or begins to show signs of a heavy infestation, such as a dull coat, weight loss, a pot-bellied appearance and sometimes coughing, if the parasites migrate into the lungs. Not only can the parasite cause death in young animals, it can become a public health concern. The roundworm eggs in your pet's feces can contaminate your home environment and makes it possible for you to acquire a zoonotic disease called "toxocariasis."
Things You'll Need
- De-worming medication
- Scoop
- Plastic bags
- Plastic tarps (if needed)
Instructions
Prevent Roundworms
Have your new pet dewormed as soon as possible, advises the Companion Animal Parasite Council (see link in References). Kittens should receive preventive roundworm treatment every other week when they are between three and nine weeks old. Puppies, which the CDC notes are the main source of human infection particularly in children, should be dewormed at two, four, six and eight weeks old. The CAPC advises monthly preventive treatments thereafter.
Take your pet to the veterinarian if you notice signs of a roundworm infection, such as weight loss, a dull coat or a pot belly. Your dog or cat may also vomit up one of the worms or expel one in his stool. Dewormers are usually administered orally, either through tablet or liquid, and depending on your pet's age, may be used to treat your pet at home.
Make sure your pet has routine fecal examinations to make sure he is not harboring roundworms. The CAPC advises that cats and dogs should receive between two and four examinations during their first year and once or twice a year thereafter.
Deter your pet from hunting outdoor "prey," such as rodents or birds. Dogs and cats can also get roundworms from ingesting infected hosts (as well as accidentally eating soil contaminated with roundworm-infected fecal matter, such as during the course of grooming).
Control the Environment
Remove animal feces from your yard on a weekly basis, advises the CDC. Scoop the feces into a plastic bag and throw it away or bury it. If you have an cat, make sure that fecal matter is scooped from the litter box daily.
Cover children's play areas, particularly sandboxes, with plastic tarps, especially if your pet or other animals use it as a place to defecate. The CDC notes that children are at particular risk for roundworm infections, especially those who exhibit pica (eating soil, feces and other nonfood matter).
Consider fencing to keep the neighborhood strays from defecating in your backyard--especially dogs and puppies. According to the CDC, the cat roundworm can cause human disease, but because cats bury their waste, human infection is more likely to occur due to dog roundworm.