Dedewormingis one of those things that slips off the radar, especially once the flea treatment is sorted. But here’s the thing: flea and worm treatment are two separate battles, and plenty of Keysborough pet owners are winning one while completely ignoring the other.
Whether you’ve got a puppy bounding around Tatterson Park or an adult cat who barely ventures past the back garden, intestinal worms in dogs and cats are more common than most people realise. According to a national Australian study published in Veterinary Parasitology, roughly 24% of dogs and 18% of cats carry gastrointestinal parasites, and most of those pets showed no obvious signs at all.
This guide covers the types of intestinal worms affecting Australian pets, how often to worm your dog or cat, the available treatment options, and when to consider the health of the humans in your household. It’s written for first-time pet owners and anyone who’s let their dewormingroutine lapse.
Types of Intestinal Worms in Dogs and Cats: What You’re Actually Dealing With
There are several types of intestinal worms that commonly affect Australian pets. Knowing what each type does and how your pet picks it up makes it a lot easier to take the right action. Here’s a rundown of the most common intestinal worms, including roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm, whipworm, and heartworm.
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Roundworm
Roundworm is one of the most common intestinal worms in Australia, particularly in puppies and kittens. These parasites live in the small intestine and pass their worm eggs through the stool. Pets generally ingest the eggs from contaminated soil, grass, or water, or a puppy can pick them up through their mother’s milk.
Signs to watch for:
- A pot-bellied appearance, especially in young animals
- Dull coat and poor condition
- Diarrhoea or vomiting
- Slow growth or weight loss in puppies
In severe cases, a roundworm infection can cause lung damage or stunted development. Roundworm also poses a real risk to humans in the household: more on that further down.
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Tapeworm
A tapeworm is a flat, segmented worm that lives in the intestine. You might spot what looks like small grains of rice around your pet’s bottom or in their stool: those are tapeworm segments. Pets usually pick up tapeworm by swallowing an infected flea during grooming, which is exactly why flea control and worm treatment go hand in hand.
Signs include:
- Scooting (dragging the bottom along the floor)
- Mild diarrhoea
- Irritation around the rear end
The hydatid tapeworm is particularly serious and has real implications for human health.
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Hookworm
Hookworm is a thin worm that attaches to the lining of the intestine and feeds on blood. It can cause serious anaemia, especially dangerous in puppies and kittens. The larva can also penetrate skin directly, meaning pets (and people) can pick it up by walking on contaminated ground.
Signs include:
- Lethargy and pale gums
- Diarrhoea, sometimes with blood
- Weight loss
This is especially relevant for Keysborough dog owners. A University of Melbourne study examining 1,581 faecal samples from 190 urban parks across Australia found that 44.2% of parks were contaminated with at least one canine soil-transmitted worm species, with hookworm the most prevalent at 10.2%. If your dog is a regular at Tatterson Park or along the Mordialloc Creek trails, that’s a real and ongoing risk.
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Whipworm
Whipworm lives in the large intestine and is contracted through the faecal-oral route: basically, your pet sniffs or licks contaminated ground. Dogs in areas where multiple animals gather, like off-leash parks, are more exposed.
Signs include:
- Diarrhoea (sometimes with blood or mucous)
- Weight loss
- General lethargy
Whipworm can be harder to detect than other worm types and often needs veterinary testing to confirm.
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Heartworm
Heartworm is different from intestinal worms: it’s transmitted through mosquito bites and travels to the heart and lungs, where it causes severe, often fatal disease in dogs. But it belongs in any conversation about intestinal worms and heartworm because pet owners often assume one product covers both, when it doesn’t.
According to Clyde Veterinary Hospital, a recent study found that roughly 7% of foxes in the Melbourne region carry heartworm, and because the larvae are spread by mosquitoes, your pet doesn’t need to come near another infected animal to be at risk. Heartworm prevention is a separate treatment from intestinal worm control, and both matter for dogs in Victoria.
DewormingYour Pet: The Recommended Schedule for Dogs and Cats
This is where a lot of pet owners get stuck. It’s not a one-off job: regular treatment is the only way to keep intestinal worms, including hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and tapeworm under control.
Puppies and kittens:
- Every 2 weeks from 2 weeks of age, up to 12 weeks
- Then, monthly from 3 to 6 months of age
- After 6 months, move to the adult schedule
Adult dogs and adult cats:
- Every three months at a minimum for intestinal worms
- Monthly heartworm prevention for dogs (or an annual injection: worth checking with your vet which works best for your pet’s lifestyle)
Cats and kittens:
- Same as dogs for intestinal worm treatment
- Indoor cats still need regular worming: they can contract intestinal worms through contaminated soil tracked in on shoes, through insects, or by swallowing an infected flea during grooming
- Cats who spend time outdoors or hunt should be treated every three months without fail
Keep in mind that most standard “allwormer” products cover intestinal worms but not heartworm. Always check what your current product actually covers, and contact your vet for advice if you’re not sure.
Spot-On, Tablet, or Injection: Which Worm Treatment Is Right for Your Dog or Cat?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, and that’s actually a good thing: different pets genuinely need different approaches. Here’s a basic rundown:
- Tablet treatments: A tablet given every three months is the standard for adult dogs and cats. Some pets take them happily; others need a more creative approach. They’re cost-effective when you stay on schedule.
- Spot-on treatments: Applied to the back of the neck, these are a great option for cats and smaller dogs who won’t take a tablet. Some spot-on products combine flea prevention and worm treatment in one, which makes your routine a lot simpler. Always confirm with your vet that the product you’re using covers all the key worm types: not all of them do.
- Annual heartworm injection: For dogs, a yearly injection from your vet covers 12 months of heartworm prevention in a single visit. Handy if monthly dosing isn’t realistic for your household.
The right worm treatment for dogs and cats depends on age, weight, lifestyle, and local parasite risk. The team at Keysi Vet offers flea and worm treatments at Keysborough Veterinary Practice and can help you put together a treatment plan that actually makes sense for your pet.
Signs Your Pet May Have Worms
Here’s the tricky part: many pets with a significant worm burden show no symptoms whatsoever. That’s exactly why regular treatment is preventative: not just something you do after you notice a problem. But when signs do show up, here’s what to look for:
- Pot belly: especially in puppies with roundworm
- Weight loss: despite a normal or even increased appetite
- Scooting: dragging the rear along the floor, often a sign of a tapeworm
- Visible worms in stool: You might actually see worms in dogs and cats that have been recently passed
- Diarrhoea: particularly if it’s ongoing or contains blood or mucous
- Vomiting: especially if adult worms are visible
- Dull coat and poor overall condition
- Lethargy or low energy
If you think your pet has worms, or you suspect your pet based on any of the above, don’t just grab something off the shelf. Contact your vet for advice on the appropriate deworming products and dose based on your pet’s age and size.
Can Humans Get Worms from Pets? What Keysborough Families Need to Know
This doesn’t get talked about enough, especially in a family-heavy suburb like Keysborough, where kids regularly play with pets and spend time in parks and backyards.
Yes, worms can infect humans. Here’s how it happens:
- Roundworm: Children who play in soil or sandpits where infected pets have defecated can accidentally ingest worm eggs. In people, roundworm larvae don’t develop into adult worms: instead, they migrate to organs including the liver, lungs, and eyes, which can cause serious damage in young children and immunocompromised adults.
- Hookworm: Larvae penetrate the skin on contact with contaminated ground. Children playing barefoot in grass or sandpits can pick up hookworm through the skin, causing a creeping, itchy rash. In some cases, swallowing larvae can also lead to intestinal symptoms.
- Tapeworm: Some tapeworm species are transmissible to humans. The hydatid tapeworm can cause cyst formation in human organs, more commonly in households where pets have access to raw offal or wildlife.
A 2023 survey of Australian dog owners published in One Health (University of Melbourne) found that many owners do not follow best practice dedewormingguidelines: a significant public health concern for communities where kids and pets share close living spaces.
The fix is simple: keep your pet protected with regular treatment, pick up after them in public spaces, and make sure kids wash their hands after playing with pets or spending time outdoors.
Getting the Right Flea and Worm Treatment in Keysborough
Keysborough sits right next to Tatterson Park and the Mordialloc Creek trail network: both brilliant spots for a dog walk, but also environments where your pet is regularly exposed to wildlife, other dogs, and contaminated soil. Worm exposure here is a genuine, ongoing risk.
If it’s been a while since your pet was last treated, or you’ve never set up a proper deworming routine, now’s a good time to sort it out. The right treatment plan will be based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and what parasites are relevant for where you live. For dogs out at the park every day, or cats and kittens in multi-pet households, that plan might look quite different from the standard label instructions.
The team at Keysi Vet keeps a range of deworming products on site and can walk you through your options at your next appointment. It’s also worth folding worm prevention into your annual wellness visit so nothing slips through the cracks year to year.
Whether you’re a first-time pet owner figuring out what dewormingproducts to use, or you’ve had dogs and cats for years and just want to confirm you’re on track, the team at Keysi Vet is here to help. Book a consult and protect your pet from parasites all year round.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often should I worm my dog or cat?
Adult dogs and cats need intestinal worm treatment every three months at a minimum. Puppies and kittens need more frequent treatment: every two weeks up to 12 weeks old, then monthly until six months. Your vet can confirm the right schedule for your pet.
- Can indoor cats get worms?
Yes. Even cats who rarely go outside can pick up intestinal worms through contaminated soil tracked in on shoes, through insects, or by swallowing an infected flea during grooming. Regular deworming still applies.
- Are worms from pets dangerous to humans?
Some types are. Roundworm and hookworm pose the biggest risk to Australian families, particularly young children who may come into contact with contaminated soil or grass. Regular treatment of your pet is the most effective way to reduce this risk.
- What’s the difference between an allwormer and heartworm prevention?
An allwormer treats intestinal worms like roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, and whipworm. It does not cover heartworm. Heartworm requires either a separate monthly preventative or an annual injection from your vet. Always check what your current product covers.
- How do I know if my pet has worms?
Many pets with worms look perfectly healthy, which is why regular preventative treatment matters. When symptoms do appear, they can include diarrhoea, weight loss, a pot belly (especially in puppies), scooting, vomiting, and a dull coat. If you suspect your pet has worms, book an appointment with your vet rather than guessing at a product or dose.
