Description: A premium grade wormer to treat all major internal parasites of dogs. Safe and proven reliable for greyhounds

Technical Issues

Internal parasites in greyhounds are made up of two primary categories of worms; Roundworms, hookworms and whipworms – called nematodes, and Tapeworms – called cestodes.

The Nematodes, or roundworms are the most important in greyhounds, and can damage not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also travel through other tissues at some stages of their life cycle and damage kidney, oesophagus, liver, lungs, brain and bladder.

Greyhounds, like all dogs, usually have more than one type of nematode infestation, so broad spectrum wormers that eliminate all of the common worms are preferred.

Many internal parasites have very complicated life cycles, and these need to be understood to effectively control worms in dogs.

Diagnosis of worm infestations can simply be done by a veterinarian by examining the parasite eggs or larvae in faeces. Each parasite has specific characteristics in the eggs seen in faeces, or in the larvae which develop from the eggs.

A brief summary of the life cycle of some of the more important worms in greyhounds will allow owners to understand a little of the technical issues involved in preventing worm infestations.

Nematodes
Roundworms. This refers to all worms of the Toxocara (ascarid) species. The two most important are Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara canis.

Adult worms of this species are large: up to 7-18cm long. Greyhounds become infested by eating the eggs from contaminated ground. Once eaten, the larvae (an immature stage of the worm) hatch from the egg and begin to develop into adult worms.

Larvae of Toxascaris leonina burrow into the wall of the small intestine and significantly reduce the ability of the small intestine to absorb nutrients. The most damage is in young pups, which often show the typical “pot belly”, occasional diarrhoea, and sometimes blockage of the digestive tract in serious infestations.

Larvae of the Toxocara canis group do much more damage as they migrate through body tissues outside the gut. In young pups the larvae penetrate the gut wall and migrate through the blood vessels to the lungs, where they do considerable damage to lung tissue, causing coughing, inflammation, and often permanent scarring and damage to lung tissue. When the larvae reach the actual air passages in the lungs, they are coughed up into the throat and swallowed. They are now back in the small intestine, and then develop into adult worms. In older dogs, as well as in pups, these larvae often migrate into muscle tissues and other major body organs where they may survive for years. Some of these ‘dormant” larvae in tissues are reactivated in late pregnancy in bitches, and then pass into the uterus, and thus into pups while they are still inside the pregnant bitch.

A very high percentage of pups are born with roundworm infestation in this way. That is why deworming is always recommended from 2 weeks of age at a regular interval in young pups.

Hookworms
There are three important species of Hookworms: Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense and Uncinaria stenocephala. A.caninum is mostly found in tropical and semi-tropical regions, while A.braziliense is found worldwide in more temperate regions. Uncinaria is found in colder regions of Europe, North America and Australia.

Heavy Hookworm infestations are most common in warm, humid conditions. Hookworms are bloodsuckers which can rapidly deplete large volumes of blood (an adult hookworm can suck 0.2mL of blood daily, and a heavily infected dog could lose between 5 and 100mL of blood every day.)

Hookworms are small worms (only 7-15mm long as adults). The Ancylostoma group use their well developed teeth (visible on a microscope) to break into blood vessels of the intestine so they can drink blood.

Dogs become infested with Hookworms by eating larvae from the ground, by eating rodents which have ingested larvae, or by penetration of the Hookworm larvae through skin when lying on the ground. (This can also happen in some human communities with Hookworm). Larvae build up in wet, shady areas such as dirty kennels, wet soil, etc. The Ancylostoma hookworms tend to like moisture (wet cement or sand), and the larvae usually enter the skin through the webbing between the toes, or the underside of the chest and abdomen, and then cause inflammation of the skin. Larvae develop in the small intestine into adults. Larvae that enter through the skin will migrate through the blood to the lungs, where they damage lung tissue and can then be coughed up and re-swallowed to enter the small intestine in similar fashion to the Roundworms. Hookworm can also enter the muscle tissue and remain dormant for long periods until the late pregnancy stages where they migrate to mammary gland tissue and enter milk. Nursing newborn pups are then infected and can have adult worms damaging their gut within 1 month, causing severe enteritis, anaemia and death.

The worst clinical signs of Hookworm infestation are seen in young pups, where Ancylostoma can cause severe blood loss and anaemia, and death in the first 2 weeks after heavy parasite burdens.

Whipworms
Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) are long nematodes (4-8cm). the eggs of these worms can survive in the environment for several years. Greyhounds become infested by eating the eggs off contaminated ground. Within 6 weeks to 3 months the larvae develop into adult worms in the large intestine. Heavy infestations cause diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), abdominal pain, weight loss, as the worms suck blood from the large intestine lining. These signs usually develop slowly over several months, so may not be evident in really young pups. Greyhounds develop very little immunity to Whipworms 9as distinct to roundworm and hookworm), so mature greyhounds of all ages can be infected with Whipworms.

Other Nematodes in Greyhounds
There are many other nematodes which infect greyhounds, including;
Lungworms (Capillaria aerophila), Bladderworm (Capillaria plica), Giant Kidney Worm (Dioctophyma renale), Tracheal worm (Filaroides osleri), Stomach worm (Physalopter spp), Oesophageal worm (Spirocerca lupi), Intestinal Threadworm (Strongyloides stercoralis).
These are all less common, and are usually controlled by the same worming treatment which controls the roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. (That’s why good wormers such as Ranvet’s Worm Free Allwormer are called broad-spectrum wormers)

Cestodes
Tapeworms live in the intestine and spread by releasing small segments full of eggs which are passed in stools. An intermediate host animal or insect then eats the eggs with food, and the tapeworm continues to develop in this host. The main intermediate hosts for greyhound parasites are rabbits, sheep or beef offal, and fleas. Small cysts develop in these intermediate hosts, and are then ingested by the dog when it eats meat or fleas.

The common greyhound tapeworms belong to two groups- the Taenia species, and Dipylidium caninum.

Infestation with Taenia species results from greyhounds eating rodents, carcasses of infected sheep or cattle, squirrels, hamsters, or wild ruminants. In contrast, greyhounds obtain Dipylidium caninum tapeworms from biting at, and ingesting, fleas and lice.

The Hydatid Tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus, develops when dogs eat the offal of infected sheep or deer which carry the intermediate (immature) stage of the lifecycle of this tapeworm. Tapeworms usually produce very few symptoms other than intermittent gas, mucous coating around stools, or diarrhoea. When an adult has adult Dipylidium caninum tapeworms they may excessively lick the anal region or drag their hindquarters along the ground due to irritation of this area by the tapeworms. Tapeworms reproduce by releasing segments with eggs, and these can often be seen at the anus or around the hindquarters of infected dogs. Weight loss and poor hair coat may be caused by heavy tapeworm infestations.

Modern worm treatments such as Worm Free Allwormer readily treat all tapeworm infestations, including Hydatid tapeworm, at the same time as treating roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, because of the combinations of active ingredients they use.

The lessons to be remembered after reading this brief summary of worm life cycles in greyhounds are;
a) Make sure the pregnant bitch is well treated before mating and again 5-10 days before whelping
b) Make sure young pups are treated regularly from 2 weeks of age, again at 4, 8 and 12 weeks, and then regularly every 3 months
c) Make sure all dogs are treated at the same time to prevent re-infections from one to another
d) Do not feed dogs off the ground. Use clean feed and water bowls
e) Make sure cleanliness in kennels is spotless. Clean up faeces, diarrhoea, old food regularly to reduce re-infection from eggs and larvae
f) Don’t allow excessive moisture to remain in kennel areas
g) Keep grass short and try to eliminate dirt, sandy areas where dogs may lie.
h) In Hydatid regions, treat all dogs every 6 weeks, and do not feed offal
i) Intestinal worms infect all breeds and ages of dogs. Groups of dogs are more at risk.
j) Worms may affect racing performance and blood counts in adult dogs
k) Treat all dogs at once. Quarantine and treat any new dogs before they mix with others.
l) Worm eggs and larvae can survive for long periods outside the dog, in kennels, runs and yards. Keep kennel areas clean and dry.

Suggested Worming Program For Greyhounds

Racing Greyhounds
1. Worm during the first few days of training. If a lot of worms are visible in stools after worming, a follow up worming 3 weeks later is strongly advised. Treat all newly introduced dogs immediately before mixing with other greyhounds.
2. Routinely worm all dogs every 6 weeks in Hydatid regions or if whipworm or hookworm are problems, or every 3 months with all other dogs.

Breeding Bitches

1. Worm before mating
2. Worm 5-10 days before whelping
3. Worm at 2 and 4 weeks after whelping, at same time as worming new puppies.
4. Worm every 6 weeks in Hydatid regions, or every 3 months with all other dogs

Puppies
1. Worm at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Worming may need to start at 1 week of age, depending on parasite history on property. Then worm every 6 weeks in Hydatid regions or if whipworm or hookworm are problems, or every 3 months until breaking-in

How Do Worm Treatments Actually Work?

The active drug Praziquantel destroys the ability of the tapeworms to defend themselves from the dog’s digestive enzymes in the gut, as well as the dog’s immune system. Praziquantel also interferes with the muscles in the mouthpiece of the tapeworm, making it impossible for the tapeworm to hold on to the mucosal lining of the gut

Pyrantel embonate interferes with the nervous system activity of roundworms, while the Oxantel embonate upsets the energy production pathways of roundworms. This two-pronged attack on the metabolism of the roundworms results in inability to remain attached, and expulsion in the faeces.

Active Constituents:
This product is available in two sizes;

(a)For large dogs
Each tablet contains: Praziquantel 125mg
Oxantel embonate 1355mg
Pyrantel embonate 357.5mg

(b) For small dogs
Each tablet contains Praziquantel 50mg
Oxantel embonate 542mg
Pyrantel embonate 143mg

Directions For Use:

(a) Worm Free Allwormer For large dogs
Give one (1) tablet per 25 kg bodyweight
20-25kg 1 tablet
25-50kg 2 tablets
Over 50kg 1 tablet per 25kg
Treat adult dogs every three (3) months for effective control of worm infestation.
Pregnant bitches Treat at mating, before whelping, and then every 3 months
Hydatid tapeworms Dogs should not be fed, or allowed to feed on, offal from any species. Treat dogs in Hydatid areas every 6 weeks.
Other tapeworms Treat every 3 months
Roundworm and Hookworm Treat at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks, then every 3 months
Whipworm Treat every 6-8 weeks after 3 months of age

(b) Worm Free Allwormer For small dogs
Give one (1) tablet per 10kg bodyweight
1.5 to 2.5kg ¼ tablet
2.5 to 5.0kg ½ tablet
Over 5.0 to 10kg 1 tablet, then dose to weight
Pregnant bitches Treat at mating, before whelping and then every 3 months
Hydatid tapeworms Dogs should not be fed, or allowed to feed on, offal from any species. Treat dogs in Hydatid areas every 6 weeks.
Other tapeworms Treat every 3 months
Roundworm and Hookworm Treat at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks, then every 3 months
Whipworm Treat every 6-8 weeks after 3 months of age
Pack Sizes: 25, 50 and 100 tablets

Indications:
For the treatment and control of the following parasites of dogs;
Roundworm (Toxocara canis, Toxocara leonina)
Hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum, A. braziliense, Uncinaria stenocephala)
Whipworm (Trichuris vulpis)
Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia ovis, T. hydatigena, T.pisiformis)
Hydatid tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosis)
Note: Does not control Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)

Safety: Is safe for use in puppies, pregnant and lactating bitches, and racing greyhounds. Treat racing greyhounds every 3 months.