Deworming helps remove any intestinal parasites that might be living inside your pet. A few risk factors increase the likelihood they’ll be infected. However, the goal of deworming is to remove any creepy crawlies that could be wreaking havoc on your pet’s insides.

How did my pet get intestinal parasites?

Depending on your pet’s age, they could be more likely to be infected. For example, puppies and kittens are often born with intestinal parasites. Other parasites are zoonotic, which means they can be transferred from one animal to the next. Wild animals like raccoons are great transportation for internal parasites and can transfer onto your pet. Symptoms might look like:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Scooting
• Coughing

When should my pet be dewormed?

We recommend you take your pup in for deworming every 2 weeks until they’re 12-weeks-old. Afterwards, they can visit monthly until they’re 6-months-old. Kittens should be dewormed every 2 weeks for 3 doses. Adult cats who spend time outside should be dewormed every couple of months, especially if they’re hunters. Typically, your furry friend should be taking monthly preventive medication that protects against internal parasites. If your pet is due to be dewormed, please contact us at 519-624-9760.

How do you diagnose intestinal parasites?

We examine a stool sample in our laboratory to determine if your pet might have internal parasites. We recommend your pet get tested at least twice a year – sometimes more often for puppies and kittens. Since some parasites can be passed on to immune-compromised family members like children and seniors, it’s important to regularly deworm your pet.