Deworming

Worms are unwanted guests that live inside your pet and without treatment can cause long-term damage. Even if you can’t see worms or symptoms that doesn’t mean that your pet doesn’t have them (worms are not always passed in the stool). Deworming is extremely important because your furry friend can pass them to humans within your home. Some worms are zoonotic which means they can transfer between species; children, seniors, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals have a higher chance of catching worms from pets.

What is deworming?

Deworming is the process by which we rid your pet of worms. To deworm your pet, we administer the medication through injections or tablets. This allows your pet to pass the worms in their stool. The first round of deworming will most likely remove adult worms, which means the baby worms won’t be removed; this is why treatments are continuous. We continue to administer the medication and run tests until all the worms are flushed from their body.

How are worms diagnosed?

Most worms can be diagnosed through blood tests or stool examinations. To identify intestinal worms our team will collect a stool sample and examine it under a microscope. Heartworms are diagnosed with blood work because they release proteins into the blood that can be detected with testing. Further exams such as X-rays or ultrasounds may be conducted to examine internal organs that heartworms affect. Heartworms are deadly and your pet should be tested annually. Schedule an appointment at 613-829-0220 or 613-843-1334 to find out if your pet has worms.

How often should my pet be dewormed?

Our team will discuss how often your pet should be dewormed during their wellness checkup. Some pets have a higher risk of catching worms so they will need prevention and control more often than others. For instance, puppies and kittens are more vulnerable so they need deworming more often. We recommend that puppies/kittens be dewormed every 2 weeks until they are 3-months-old. Adult cats and dogs should be dewormed once every couple of months or a few times throughout the year.