There are 4 common ways your cat or dog can pick up intestinal worms:
1. By swallowing infected fleas while grooming
2. By ingesting worm eggs from a contaminated environment (toys, grass, soil, etc.)
3. By eating or scavenging carcasses of other infected animals (mice, rabbits, birds, etc.) or by being fed an unprocessed raw food diet
4. From the mother to her kittens or puppies, either across the placenta before they are born (puppies only), or via her milk when nursing

You shouldn’t wait until you start seeing signs of worms, as infections often have to be quite severe before signs let you know there is a problem. Signs of worms can include weight loss, bloated tummy, diarrhoea, vomiting and rubbing their bottom along the ground, but these are not specific to worm infections. Worm eggs are microscopic, but you might see worms (looking like spaghetti) or worm segments (looking like grains of rice) in your pet's stool or around their bottom.

Yes. People can get infected by some worm eggs present on their pet's fur or in the environment, which can cause serious diseases. Roundworm larvae can travel through the body and cause blindness in severe cases, especially in children. That is why it’s important to worm your cat or dog regularly, even if you can’t see any worms or your pet looks healthy. Regular worming of your pet can help reduce the chance of this happening and help you protect your whole family.

No. Your pet can pick up worms at any time throughout the year. Worm eggs can survive in the environment for several years and potentially infect your pet anywhere they explore. Fleas, another potential source of worms, are also a risk year-round.

It’s important that you don’t wait to see signs of worms or ill health before you worm your pet, and regular worming is part of responsible pet ownership to protect them, yourself and others. But how often you should worm will depend on a number of different factors.

Experts recommend treating dogs and most cats for intestinal worms at least every 3 months.

In certain circumstances, it may be advised to worm more frequently. Examples include higher-risk scenarios, such as if your pet lives with small children or an immunocompromised adult, or where your pet has frequent risk of infection. In these cases, or in case of suspected heavy roundworm infection, we recommend you contact your pet healthcare professional who can recommend the adequate frequency for your pet’s circumstances.

FRONTLINE^® WORMER kills all types of intestinal worms commonly found in the UK: roundworms and tapeworms in cats; roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms in dogs.

For the routine treatment of intestinal worms in your adult dog or cat use FRONTLINE^® WORMER every 3 months.

In certain circumstances, it may be advised to worm more frequently. Examples include higher-risk scenarios, such as if your pet lives with small children or an immunocompromised adult, or where your pet has frequent risk of infection. In these cases, or in case of suspected heavy roundworm infection, we recommend you contact your vet for further advice.