Worm resistance means that worms are no longer sensitive to certain deworming treatments. Resistance is a hereditary trait and is passed on to offspring. The problem occurs in all animals and has become increasingly common in recent years. In this blog, we explain what worm resistance is, how it develops, and why it poses such a big problem.
What is worm resistance?
Worm resistance occurs when worms genetically adapt to the dewormers used to control them. Some worms have a genetic mutation that makes them insensitive to a specific treatment.
When deworming, resistant worms survive the treatment while the sensitive ones are killed. As the resistant worms reproduce, the population becomes increasingly resistant. Over time, this can lead to a population that is very hard to treat with available medications.
Why do we want to prevent worm resistance in dogs and cats?
In dogs and cats, worm resistance is not yet actually present, as we already see in horses. We want to prevent this, because worm resistance poses a serious risk to your animal’s health. It means that we can no longer fully rely on the deworming products that we have used for many years. As parasites adapt, we lose more and more effective products to keep infections under control. This leads to a shortage of effective worm treatments and makes it increasingly difficult to combat worm infections.
Resistant worms can accumulate in an animal’s body and cause serious health problems. Depending on the worm species, this may lead to weight loss, reduced immunity, anemia, and even death, especially in young or weakened animals. By carrying out responsible fecal testing, we are committed to preventing resistance.
How does worm resistance develop?
Worm resistance usually develops due to incorrect or excessive use of deworming agents.
When dewormers are used too often or unnecessarily, worms adapt faster. Deworming without a confirmed infection or using the wrong dosage increases the risk of resistance. If different types of dewormers are not rotated, worms adapt more easily. That’s why it’s important to only deworm when absolutely necessary and to always use the correct dosage and product.
How can we prevent worm resistance?
To counteract worm resistance, it is crucial to only deworm when truly necessary and to prevent your animal from getting infected in the first place.
By performing worm testing regularly (4 times a year), worm infections can be detected early. If animals are heavily infected, deworming is still possible. But thanks to testing, non-infected animals can avoid unnecessary treatments. If worm testing reveals an infection, we will provide personalized treatment advice. This ensures your animal’s health and helps prevent resistance.
Finally, prevention is key. For all animal species, maintaining strict hygiene is essential. On our website, we explain what you can do to prevent worm infections for your horse, donkey, dog, cat, goat or sheep, alpaca or llama.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact our team — we’re happy to help!
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