Sometimes referred to as drenching or worming, the process of deworming is a means of ridding animals of parasites that live in the body. Failure to engage in deworming can lead to a number of health issues for the animal, including death. Deworming is an ongoing task that many dog and cat owners engage in on a regular basis. Persons who own horses or cattle also often employ various means to deworm their animals.
Deworming usually involves the administration of some type of medication to help prevent the occurrence of such parasite types as tapeworms and roundworms. This type of regular health maintenance makes it possible to prevent the parasites from setting up in the system, and eventually infecting vital organs. Deworming medications are often administered orally, although there are some types of gelled medication that may be applied to the skin.
Many animal owners will choose to engage in deworming methods that involve little to no real effort. Medications to handle the process often are colorless and tasteless. This means the medicine may be in the form of granules that are added to the food without detracting from the taste or texture. For dogs and cats, deworming medicines may be provided in the form of a chew tablet that is flavored to entice the pet to consume the medication.
Often, deworming medication must be administered on a monthly basis. While somewhat expensive, the cost of the medicine is much less than the standard veterinarian visit, and far less costly than attempting to effectively treat a pet who is suffering with an advanced case of tapeworms in a vital organ. Deworming also means a quality of life for the family pet that is not marred by the pain that accompanies the deterioration of infected organs.
Whether to protect the health of a the family pet or to make sure that livestock remains healthy and salable, deworming is a common task that just about any animal owner should perform regularly. Doing so ensures the well being of the animal, making it possible to enjoy the companionship of the family dog or cat for more years, or make a larger profit off the sale of healthy livestock.