Every dog and cat is at risk of becoming infected with worms. In Central Europe, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms are the most common intestinal parasites. Some of these migrate from the intestine through other organs in the body. In addition, lungworms are playing an increasingly significant role.

Infection usually occurs through the ingestion of feces, grass, and prey such as mice or birds, as well as through intermediate hosts, such as fleas. The individual risk of a worm infestation therefore varies greatly. While some animals almost never become infected, others ingest new worm eggs almost every day. This depends, among other things, on age, lifestyle, and diet.

ESCCAP—an independent European organization that develops guidelines for managing parasites—therefore recommends a risk-based approach. Depending on their lifestyle, dogs and cats should either be dewormed at individually determined intervals or monitored through fecal examinations at the same intervals. The goal is to reduce the excretion of infectious worm eggs and thereby protect the health of both animals and humans. Some species of worms are zoonotic pathogens, which means they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Children and immunocompromised individuals are particularly at risk.

Instead of routine deworming, it is also possible to test a stool sample. This test specifically determines whether an animal is infected with worms. This helps prevent the unnecessary administration of medication. However, eggs are not excreted continuously, so even a fecal sample collected over three days may sometimes fail to detect a minor infestation. A negative test result therefore does not always definitively rule out a worm infestation.

Talk to your veterinarian about the specific interval and type of fecal exam your pet needs, as well as deworming. You can also find more information in our brochure “Advice & Assistance: Is There a Worm in It?”