Some diseases can be transmitted to humans from animals such as dogs - these are known as zoonotic diseases. Many external and internal dog parasites are zoonotic.

A disease which can be transmitted from animals to humans is known as a zoonotic disease. There are several external and internal cat parasites which are zoonotic, some of which can be more serious to humans than to their pets.

Worming your dog is important for your dog's health as well as your own, because some canine parasites can be transmitted to humans. Worming frequency depends on a dog's age, its habitat, and which parasites are a problem in the areas in which the dog lives and visits.

Worming your cat is important not only for the cat's health but for yours as well, as some cat parasites can be transmitted to humans. Cat worming treatment frequency depends on their age, their habitat and the parasites prevalent in their surroundings.

There are so many different worming medications available for dogs that selecting the right one can be a very daunting task - and that is before you have even gone near that mouth and all those teeth to get your dog to swallow a tablet!

Worming your cat should be a simple task, but when you look on the shelves or browse online, there are so many different options. Which one should you choose?

Whipworms are parasites which live in a dog's large intestine. They can cause diarrhea, weight loss and anemia.

The whipworm gets its name from the adult's characteristic whip-like shape, with the front end narrower than the back end.

Tapeworms can infect dogs and cats. Owners may notice rice-grain-like segments of tapeworms in feces or in the fur around the anus. Most tapeworms will not make pets ill, but some can be contracted by owners and make them quite unwell.

Roundworms are parasites which live in the gut of dogs and cats and can cause illness. They can cause diarrhea, a scruffy coat, pot-bellied appearance, a cough or block the intestines. There are three roundworm species affecting dogs and cats, Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati and Toxascaris leonina.

Hookworms are parasites that live in the small intestine of infected animals. Although quite small at only ¼ to ⅓ of an inch long, hookworms are potentially very dangerous, especially to puppies and kittens.