Whether you worm conventionally, naturally, or not at all it’s a good idea to regularly test the worm burden of your dog to make sure they’re getting the protection they need and staying as healthy as possible.

Worm eggs and larvae are invisible to the naked eye. They're found outside in water bowls, on toys, clinging to blades of grass, on snails and their trails, in dog faeces, and dead animals.

Your dog swallows the worm eggs, they hatch in the intestine then the worms attach themselves to the lining of your dog’s gut. They then proceed to release millions of eggs which your dog passes out in their poo and the cycle continues. So if your dog’s test comes back with a positive result for eggs, they’ve definitely got worms.

THIS SIMPLE WORM EGG TEST WILL TELL YOU IF

• Your dog has worms
• If your current wormer is working
• If you need to worm your dog or not

WE SUGGEST DOING A WORM COUNT TEST IF

• You raw feed
• Your dog is prone to fleas (immature fleas carry tapeworm)
• You don’t want to worm unnecessarily
• You want to make sure the wormer you’re using is working
• You want to worm less often but remain protected
• Your dog is a scavenger or a grass eater.
• You can’t worm your dog for health reasons
• You want to test for lungworm (this requires a separate test - test 2)

WHAT EACH KIT TESTS FOR

Toxocara, tapeworm, whipworm, hookworm and giardia

WHAT’S IN THE KIT

• Full instructions
• Disposable gloves
• Collection spoon(s)
• Smell proof bag(s)
• Outer bag
• Freepost envelope

HOW TO DO A TEST

Kits fit easily through your letterbox and don’t need signing for.

Open the kit. Take a sample of your dog’s poo from that day using the small spoon provided. Put the sample into the smell proof bag, dispose of the spoon! Put the smell proof bag into the freezer bag the kit comes in. Fill out your details on the enclosed form and put the lot into the Freepost bag. Post as soon after collecting the sample as possible. Try to take the sample on Sunday to Thursday so the sample isn’t sitting in the post box for a couple of days.

There is no need to go to a post office, the sample will fit in any postbox.

The sample goes directly to the lab for testing. The results are emailed to you within 24/48 hours of receipt. It really is that simple!

WHEN TO DO A TEST

If you worm your dog

Worm egg counts can be done any time from 14 days after worming. We don’t recommend doing a test before 14 days has elapsed as the worming treatment you have used will need those 14 days to work its magic.

If you don’t worm your dog

Do a test any time, especially if you’re concerned worms may be present, or you live in, or have visited, a lungworm hotspot. (see Lung Worm kits)

It is recommended you test for worms four times a year.

This test is not intended as a replacement for worming your pet in the first place. It is merely a way of monitoring the worm egg burden of your dog and treating accordingly. Many owners choose to worm their pets while others never do, which is entirely your decision.

WORMING PUPPIES

Always worm puppies (and kittens) by following a veterinary flea and worming schedule as they will have inherited a parasite burden from their mother, and not to do so can pose a serious health risk to very young animals.

Worm counts can be done from 16 weeks old. 

For any more information email info@wormcountsfordogs.co.uk