After giving a deworming treatment to your kitty, she gets worm free, but your pooch now has them. If there is still a part of the treatment left you can be tempted to just give it to your tyke. But that works all the time. Although you may find that the ingredients of dog and cat deworming treatments are mostly the same. Active ingredients like praziquantel are currently available under different brand names. They can be found in both dogs and cats deworming treatment.
Just because the active ingredient is the same does not mean that it is a good idea to give your canine your feline’s deworming treatment or vice versa. The difference is in the amounts of ingredients utilized. The dosing amount may also vary contingent on the size of the pet.
There are a wide array of preventative treatments available for heartworms for dogs and cats. But while dogs can be treated with the aid of an injection once they are infected, cats cannot be treated the same way if they get heartworm. There are certain cases, where the treatment that is effective on dogs can be poisonous for cats. So, it is always the better option to let your veterinarian suggest worming treatments for your dog and cat rather than treating them yourself. Worming treatments for kitties is available but heartworm treatment is a different ball game altogether. Remember, prevention is better than cure. The treatment not only is very tedious but also quite expensive.
It is also very important to understand that there are different worms that can affect your dog and cat. So, never give one treatment that is specifically for treating a particular worm for another worm. For example; if your kitty has roundworms and your dog has tapeworm, never give the treatment that works to eradicate roundworms to treat tapeworms. Hence, before getting a deworming treatment, consult with your veterinarian who would determine the type of worm that has affected your pet and then provide appropriate treatment and advice on dosage amounts.
The best possible way to counter the worm problem in dogs and cats is by taking preventative measures to keep them from getting any type of worms in the first place. Remember, kittens and puppies are born with worms. They get it from their mothers when they nurse. That is the reason routine veterinary puppy and kitten care includes worm treatment. After a year, ask your veterinarian to test your pet’s stool to ensure that there is no presence of worms. Also ensure that they do not eat birds, mice or other animals that could be carrying worms. Also get rid of fleas because that is the first big step to prevent worms in dogs and cats.