Roundworms
By Dr Steve Surujbally
Roundworm infections in dogs and cats occur pretty frequently. Some roundworm infestations can be fatal, especially in young pups and kittens, and must therefore be taken seriously.
Here, in the tropics, practically all young mammals have roundworms, including humans. As an aside, I should mention that a human medico friend of mine has a principle of deworming any young child (below the age of five) which is presented to him with symptoms of weight loss and lethargy. We veterinarians tend to follow this same logic. Every young pup or kitten that comes in for vaccination or treatment for some other malady is promptly dewormed – whether or not the general symptoms pertaining to a helminth burden, which we discussed in the Pet Corner April 20, 2008, are present.