Help for Roundworm

Conventional Treatments

There are a number of medications that can be prescribed by your vet or bought over the counter for the treatment of worms however, over-the-counter medications are often less effective than prescription types, and potentially more harmful to your pet. Commonly recommended wormers recommended for roundworms are Pyrantel Pamoate, mebendazole and albendazole.

Most medications for roundworm only act on matured roundworms and so 3 to 4 doses may be required to allow the other larvae to become more mature and therefore more susceptible to the treatment. Because worming medications are chemical-based, regular worming, while not without benefits, can be damaging to your pet’s immune system. Many people are therefore exploring alternatives treatments.

Natural Remedies

Roundworms, just like other parasites are something that animals have had to live with since the beginning of time. In nature, however, animals are well equipped with a number of herbal ingredients to help keep them at bay.

Herbs such as Wormwood and Ruta graveolens act as digestive tonics and help rid the system of worms by promoting regular digestive cleansing. They also help by restoring digestive health after parasitic infections. Others beneficial herbs include Cloves and Neem which work to discourage pests and act as natural parasite repellants.  Read more... (539 words, 2 images, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

What is a Roundworm?

Roundworms are common intestinal parasites that affect both cats and dogs. In fact, most puppies and kittens are infected with roundworms at birth or within the first few months of life as the worms are often transmitted in the uterus or while nursing from their mothers.

These large, cylindrical and cream colored worms can grow as long as seven inches and can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms for your pet such as vomiting, diarrhea, poor nutrition and distended stomachs (often seen in puppies and kittens with a worm infestation) if they are left untreated.

What Causes Roundworms?

To fully understand what causes infestations of roundworm, it is important to look at the life cycle of the actual worm. Female roundworms can produce up to 100,000 eggs in a single day! The larvae are then passed in the stool and the embryonic worm develops within this larva in the outside environment.  Read more... (624 words, 2 images, estimated 2:30 mins reading time)