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They look like creatures from a gruesome science fiction movie.
But this shocking new footage shows the creepy ringworms and tapeworms that could be living in your cat or dog.
These parasites are usually microscopic, but their gory details are revealed in the images, which are magnified up to 180 times.
They show how important it is to take your pet to the vet regularly to have it dewormed, a relatively simple treatment that usually requires tablets.
In rare cases, both tapeworms and roundworms can also infect humans; the latter is known to potentially cause serious damage to children’s vision.
Pet owners take note: These shocking images reveal the creepy worms that could be living inside your cat or dog
These parasites are usually microscopic, but their gory details are revealed in the images, which are magnified up to 180 times
The images were taken using various microscope techniques by nature photographer Dr David Maitland and released by deworming brands Drontal and Dronspot.
“Just because these creatures are small doesn’t mean they’re harmless,” says Daniel Thiem of the deworming brands.
‘Both tapeworms and roundworms are relatively common, with the latter found in one in four cats in a British study.
‘It is important to monitor your cat’s risk level and deworm him regularly. Even if your cat doesn’t go outside or isn’t a hunter, he can still contract worms.
‘This can come from other pets in the household, worm eggs carried on people’s shoes and from ingesting fleas while grooming, as fleas can contain tapeworm eggs.’
According to Mr Thiem, cat worms can cause disease in humans when their larvae burrow into organs such as the eyes, liver, heart and brain.
“To be on the safe side: worm monthly,” said the expert.
In rare cases, both tapeworms and roundworms can also infect humans – with the latter known to potentially cause serious damage to children’s vision
Tapeworms, which can grow up to 15 feet in dogs, about the height of a giraffe, hook into a pet’s intestines and develop long, ribbon-like bodies — with symptoms including diarrhea, lack of energy, weight loss and more
Research among 1,000 cat owners commissioned by the manufacturers of deworming medicines has shown that only 23 percent have dewormed their cat in the past month
Roundworm and some types of tapeworm can be transmitted to humans and can cause illness and even blindness
According to White Cross Vets, preventative deworming treatment for cats and dogs is easy to administer, but you should do this routinely to ensure your pet doesn’t get worms.
Roundworms – which, as the name suggests, have round bodies – are the most common intestinal worms in dogs and cats.
They consume partially digested food in our pets’ intestines and produce microscopic eggs that are then excreted through our pets’ feces.
Meanwhile, tapeworms consist of many small segments that carry eggs and in dogs they can grow up to 16 feet, about the height of a giraffe.
Tapeworms hook into the lining of a pet’s intestines and develop long, ribbon-like bodies, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, lack of energy and weight loss.
Research among 1,000 cat owners commissioned by the manufacturers of deworming medicines has shown that only 23 percent have dewormed their cat in the past month.