May2014_News from UQ Vets Dayboro
Anzac day is here again and with the continued warm, rainy weather we have been experiencing lately it is worth noting that worms remain an ever present problem for many of our two and four legged friends.
We approach worm control in what we call production animals (cattle, sheep, alpacas etc.) somewhat differently to that of companion animals such as cats and dogs. Due to the nature of our close relationships with cats and dogs and the fact that many of the worms they are susceptible to can be passed on to us, we recommend worming on a regular basis with a good quality product. There are several products on the market which target Roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm. They all have different advantages and it can get a bit confusing, so speak to your vet about which product is best for your pet.
Production animals are a different story – while worming is a very important part of animal husbandry, it is also important not to over treat our animals as this only encourages stronger, more resistant strains of worm. We quite often perform faecal egg counts on a variety of species including sheep and goats, calves and even chooks. This involves a small sample of faeces being examined under the microscope and from this we establish the presence of worm eggs, in what numbers and what species. We expect most production animals to have some worms present but this is not usually clinically significant unless they are in high numbers or the animal is very young, very old or unwell. In this way you can tailor your worming regimen to suit their needs and minimise the risk of breeding resistance to the commonly used drugs.
Again there are several different products on the market. Most commonly they are given as a drench or a pour-on, depending on species. It is important to have a fairly good idea of the animal’s weight to be sure we are giving an effective dose. Under dosing is not only a waste of time and money, as there won’t be enough of the drug in the animal’s system to kill all the worms, but it also contributes to drug resistance. If you don’t have access to suitable scales there are a number of weight tapes available which can give a good indication of weight.
Worms can cause a number of problems for your animals, from weight loss, anaemia, reduced production (e.g. egg laying) and eventually death. Signs that your animal may have a worm burden are pale mucous membranes (e.g. gums), swelling under the jaw, diarrhoea and weight loss. If you think worms could be a problem for your animals, give us a call and book a time to bring in a small stool sample. We only need a gram, about 2-3 pellets from a goat. It does need to be fresh though, directly from the animal, not picked up off the ground in the paddock. If you would like more information please call the clinic on 3425 1544. We’re here to help.
UQ Vets Dayboro,
125 McKenzie Street, Dayboro.
Phone 3425 1544 ALL HOURS
