Types of Worms

Types of Worm

  1. Roundworm

    • Virtually every kitten can become infected while nursing.
    • Children playing in contaminated soil or sand can become infected with roundworms if they place their dirty fingers in their mouth.
    • Roundworm eggs can hatch in a child’s stomach, causing damage to the abdominal organs and blindness in extreme cases.
    • Roundworms cause diarrhoea and vomiting in young cats and dogs. They can also cause weight loss, a pot-bellied appearance, loss of vitality and lethargy. Severe infection can lead to pneumonia and obstruction of the intestine.
    Learn more about roundworm

  1. Hookworm (Ancylostoma)

    • Hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin.
    • Children are often infected by walking barefoot in contaminated soil or putting contaminated dirt in their mouth.
    • In humans, hookworms can cause lesions where they penetrate the skin, intestinal bleeding, anaemia, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
    • Most common in young and occasionally adult animals, hookworms can cause anaemia if present in large numbers. Other symptoms include intestinal distress, pale gums, bloody diarrhoea, weight loss and in some cases stunted growth, digested blood in the stool and a poorly conditioned coat.
    Learn more about hookworm

  1. Tapeworm

    • Cats and dogs are at risk from these parasites that attach themselves to the wall of the small intestine.
    • Infection usually occurs by hunting intermediate hosts or ingesting flea larvae.
    • Tapeworms (Echinococcus) do little harm to cats and dogs, but can cause a severe infection – alveolar disease – in humans. However, cats, in contrast to dogs, are thought to be of minimal zoonotic risk as they are poor hosts for this worm.
    • A common symptom is white segments on the animal or in the stool. In rare cases, if present in large numbers, tapeworms can cause weight loss and debilitation. Sometimes, more often in dogs, the animal will scoot or drag its bottom across the ground or carpet, due to anal irritation caused by the segments.
    Learn more about tapeworm

Roundworm

Round Worm

Roundworms are the most common worms of cats and dogs.

Hookworm

Hook Worm

Hookworms are common parasites of the small intestine of dogs and cats.

Learn more about hookworms

Tapeworm

Tape Worm

Tapeworms are common parasites of the small intestine of dogs and cats.