Worms! An ongoing
vigilance required

THERE are four main types of worm that dogs in New Zealand can acquire. Their effects and outcomes are all different, but for the safety of human owners and their children, and for the health of the dogs themselves, there is one easy remedy - all adult dogs should be dosed four times yearly with a good broad-spectrum wormer.

Equally as important for the dog's health is that its owner reads the instructions on the worm tablets packet and does not administer more, or less, than required. The listed dosages are worked out for maximum safety and efficiency. Less than the stated dose and your dog may retain material that will reinfect it quickly. More than the required dose may be toxic to your dog and can cause illness, organ damage or death, according to the size of overdose.

Roundworms
These are by far the most common type and can be ingested by a dog through eating off the ground or stock paddocks where there are eggs on the ground. Puppies need treatment for these worms starting from two weeks old as they can be infected through their mother's milk.

Keeping kennels off the ground and the dogs' playing area clean and clear of faeces is the most positive way to stop infection.

In rare cases a roundworm larval infection in humans can cause a reaction called visceral larva migrans which may disrupt the working of the liver, kidneys, stomach, eye or brain. Un-treated in the dog they can cause toxocariasis leading to blindness.

Tapeworms
Tapeworms are carried on fleas, so if your dog kills a flea between its teeth or ingests one while grooming itself there is a good chance it will become infected. Tapeworms leave segments in the faeces that look like grains of rice. They can infect humans but they can not cause symptoms or multiply in the human intestine, so are usually of little consequence. However, a second type of tapeworm is the hydatids tapeworm for which dogs act as the intermediate stage in the worm's life cycle. Hydatids is currently dormant in New Zealand, but to maintain that status dogs must never be fed raw offal. Hydatids is often fatal in humans - the only treatment is surgical.

Hookworm
These can infect dogs through the paws or lesions on the body. They are blood suckers, so a dog infected by them may be anaemic and weak, with diarrhoea and sometimes blood in the faeces. They can infect humans through the skin and cause an itchy, dermatitis type of condition.

Whipworm
These infect dogs but not humans. It is hard to tell when they are present as they do not always leave traces in the faeces. They are also blood suckers, and cause the same symptoms as hookworm infections.

• To maximise the safety of your family and dogs train the dogs to toilet in one area only.
• Train the children to keep away from that area.
• NEVER leave droppings there - make sure they are picked up and disposed of the same day.
• Worm your dogs and family regularly.
• Train your children to wash thoroughly after playing with the dog.
• Keep your dog's fenced area clean and its water bowl cleaned and refilled daily.
• If your dog has a kennel, air any blankets daily to prevent any build-up of fleas in the bedding that could infect your dog with tapeworm.

Heartworm - is carried by mosquitoes and is prevalent in Australia but not New Zealand. If you take your dog to Australia with you on holiday or to live, see your vet about its protection. Mosquitoes love to bite dogs too!

Ringworm - is falsely named. It is not a worm but a fungal infection of the skin.