Protect with PARAGARD^® for all intestinal worms

To care for the health of your pet and protect your family from the human health risks associated with some worms, regular treatment for intestinal worms with PARAGARD is essential. There are four major intestinal worms which infect dogs:

	Hookworms
	Roundworms
	Whipworms
	Tapeworms

Hookworms – feed on blood from the lining of the intestines in dogs and cats and can cause anaemia and diarrhoea. Death can occur with heavy infestations in pups. Hookworms are especially dangerous worms because they also pose a health risk to humans.

Roundworms – Pups may be born with roundworms from an infected mother, or acquire them soon after birth. Signs in pups include a pot-belly, dry coat, stunted growth, diarrhoea, lung damage and death.

Whipworms – A parasite of the large bowel, whipworm is more likely to occur where multiple dogs are housed together and have access to faecal material. They feed on their host's blood. Heavy infestations may lead to anaemia and bloody diarrhoea (haemorrhagic colitis). Dogs of all ages can be infected by ingestion of whipworm eggs. Trichuris eggs are highly resistant and survive in the external environment for several years.

Tapeworms – Dipylidium caninum is the most common tapeworm (cestode) that affects puppies. Immature Dipylidium caninum tapeworms are found in fleas. Dogs ingest these fleas during grooming and the tapeworm then develops in the dog's small intestine. Adult tapeworm have a segmented body. Tapeworm segments (full of eggs) are eliminated with faeces and may emerge on their own. After drying out, they look like small rice grains stuck to the hair around the anus. Because fleas act as the intermediate host (or 'carrier') for this species of tapeworm, the treatment for this tapeworm must be combined with flea control measures to be effective.

Tapeworm infestation usually causes few problems in adult dogs, but can slow the growth of puppies and cause poor coat condition and anal irritation.

In rural areas, ask your veterinarian about controlling hydatid tapeworm, a parasite with significant human health implications. They can cause serious disease related to cyst formation (hydatid cysts) in some organs of the body.

Worming products for dogs are not very long lasting. This is why animals should be re-treated at regular intervals. The de-worming schedule varies with the risk of infection – your veterinarian will be able to advise.