Tapeworms often appear as small, flat, segmented worms that resemble grains of rice or cucumber seeds. They may be white or yellowish and sometimes seen crawling near the dog's anus or in their faeces. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Mebendazole, albendazole and tiabendazole work by preventing the worms from absorbing the sugars they need for survival. They kill the worms but not the eggs.

You may see dead worms in your cat’s poo if they had a very heavy infestation, but it’s more than likely that you won’t see anything after treating them.These tablets are effective against all four major types of worms in the UK and can be used for adult dogs and puppies older than six weeks. As for weight restrictions, they are suitable for any weight between 5-35 kg. For dogs over 35 kg there is the Prazitel Plus XL option. The Ridaworm dog wormers are designed to kill all four main types of worms that pose a risk in the UK. The tablets are flavoured, making them tastier to dogs and more likely to be accepted when disguised as a treat instead of medication.

If your cat has tapeworms, you might see worm segments (which look like grains of rice) crawling around their bottom. That said, most dogs will have worms at some point in their life, which is why it's really important to safeguard them against these nasty little pests with a regular treatment. Puppies need to be wormed every couple of weeks and dogs every few months; again, speak to your vet to determine the correct frequency for your dog's age and lifestyle. A doctor or pharmacist may suggest you repeat the dose after 2 weeks to stop you from getting threadworms again. This is because the medicine kills the worms but not their eggs.

Symptoms of worms in cats

The rest of this leaflet discusses the medicines that may be used to treat worm infections. See the separate leaflets called Roundworms, Threadworms and Schistosomiasis. Mebendazole may be given either as a single dose or twice each day for 3 days, depending on the type of worm your child is infected with. Your doctor will tell you how often to give it. The revolting little critters don’t just affect dogs, either. Left untreated, worms (especially roundworms) can spread throughout your pets and your family, and cause nasty conditions such as toxocariasis. They can be particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women, causing birth defects and blindness.

There are two ways to go about worming – preventative and reactive – but, as we know, defence is always the best offence. That said, when your dog does catch worms, you will need to act straight away. If your cat is healthy and has seen your vet recently, your surgery will be able to dispense a worming treatment without needing to see them. They will just need to know how much they weigh so they can dispense the correct dose. However, always crush the tablet before giving it to a young child. Always supervise a child while they are taking this medicine. READ NEXT: Our guide to the best pet insurance providers The best worming tablets for dogs in 2022 1. Drontal Dog Tasty Bone: Best all-round worming tablets for dogs

Their first treatment should be at 3 weeks old and after that, they should be wormed every two weeks until they are 16 weeks old.

PetArmor 7 Way Chewable De-Wormer for dogs treats and controls 7 species of worms: 2 types of tapeworms, 2 types of roundworms, and 3 types of hookworms Tapeworms - these worms live in the gut. People usually become infected by eating raw or uncooked meat.

Key considerations

Pomegranate has been studied as another natural remedy, but with mostly inconclusive results. [8] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Cons: Does not kill or treat tapeworms, not labeled for use in puppies younger than 8 weeks or weighing less than 5 pounds Boots This Medicine is sold by BOOTS UK LIMITED at the professional discretion of a Boots pharmacist.