Journal watch13 January 2026
Author(s): I. Wright
Published in: The Veterinary Nurse
Date: September 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2025.0004
Type of access: Requires membership/payment (click for full article)
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Our summary
Wright, I. (2025) Routine worming: is it time to change your routine? The Veterinary Nurse, 16 (7), pp. 280-286.
The aim of this article is to identify where alternatives such as diagnostic testing or preventive actions can provide a substitute for routine worming treatments for dogs and cats in the UK.
The article first outlines reasons why routine treatment as a sole strategy for parasite control is not the preferable approach. It highlights issues for the owner such as unnecessary expenses, as well as reduced compliance if the owner grows to distrust the blanket advice or finds it difficult to administer treatments to their pets. It also delineates issues for the pet, such as unnecessary drug exposure which can cause adverse reactions, as well as the potential development of drug resistance. Finally, it also touches on the possible environmental impact of the parasiticides, although acknowledging that the extent to which companion animal anthelmintic use contaminates the environment has not yet been assessed.
The author then looks at three categories of parasitic worms, the risks they pose to animals and humans, and the feasibility of alternative prevention tactics. He identifies intestinal roundworms (hookworms, whipworms, and ascarids, including Toxocara spp.) as the first category, pointing out that although intestinal roundworm infections are generally well tolerated in companion animals, routine treatment in the UK is mainly employed to reduce the zoonotic risk, specifically of Toxocara spp. infections. Alternate control measures include minimising environmental contamination with cat and dog faeces, washing hands and produce, and diagnostic testing (recommended four times a year by the ESCCAP).
Next the article addresses is Angiostrongylus vasorum. Infection with the parasite in dogs occurs through the ingestion of intermediate hosts, most commonly slugs or snails but also paratenic hosts such as frogs. Clinical presentation often includes mild to moderate pulmonary signs, with a more severe consequence being coagulopathy. Of note about the parasite is its rapid spread throughout the UK in the past 20–30 years, with focal areas of very high prevalence; as such, testing dogs before surgery or with clinical signs is valuable in establishing geographic risk. While the Baerman technique has hitherto been the preferred diagnostic test, faecal antigen tests such as AngioDetect (which can be performed in practice) have been found to be less time-consuming and cumbersome, as well as highly sensitive and specific. Other control options for Angiostrongylus vasorum include using molluscicides, keeping dog toys indoors, and not taking dogs out in wet conditions.
The article then outlines three types of tapeworms found in the UK. While infections are generally well tolerated in cats and dogs except in cases of high burdens, they may lead to economic losses through meat and offal condemnation if livestock consume faeces contaminating pastures or feedstores. Moreover, E. granulosus poses a serious zoonotic risk, making implementing routine control measures in endemic areas crucial. Control options include minimising livestock access to dog faeces, washing hands and produce, flea control, and cooking or pre-freezing raw pet food. However, faecal flotation diagnostic tests for tapeworm have very low sensitivity, and there are no faecal antigen or PCR tests available. As such, treatment remains crucial in preventing the spread of the parasite, with monthly treatment recommended for high-risk animals in endemic areas.
Take home
Although regular preventive treatment for intestinal worms continues to play an important role in parasite control, using preventive measures and diagnostic testing in its place can reduce reliance on regular dosing and pose as a feasible alternative in some circumstances.
The following may also be of interest
Evidence collection: Responsible use of antiparasitic medications in veterinary practice. [RCVS Knowledge] [Online] Available from: https://www.rcvsknowledge.org/resource/responsible-use-of-antiparasitic-medications-in-veterinary-practice/ [Accessed 13 January 2026]
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