Revealed: Terrifying images show the dangerous worms that could be lurking inside your pet magnified 180 times
- Microscopic techniques show roundworms and tapeworms in incredible detail
- READ MORE: I deliberately let a two-metre long tapeworm live inside my gut
They look like creatures from a gruesome sci-fi movie.
But these shocking new images show the creepy roundworm and tapeworms that could be living inside your cat or dog.
These parasites are mostly microscopic, but their gory detail is revealed in the images, which have been magnified up to 180 times.
They show the importance of taking your pet to the vet regularly to get it wormed, a relatively simple treatment usually involving tablets.
On rare occasions, both tapeworms and roundworms can infect humans too – the latter known to potentially cause serious damage to children’s eyesight.
Pet owners beware: These shocking images reveal the creepy worms which could be living inside your cat or dog
These parasites are mostly microscopic, but their gory detail is revealed in the images, which have been magnified up to 180 times
The images were captured using various microscope techniques by nature photographer Dr David Maitland and released by pet worming brands Drontal and Dronspot.
'Just because these creatures are tiny, doesn’t mean they are harmless,' said Daniel Thiem from the worming brands.
'Both tapeworms and roundworms are relatively common with the latter being found in one in four cats in one UK study.
'It’s important to check the risk-level of your cat and de-worm them regularly – even if your cat does not go outside or is not a hunter, they could still pick up worms.
'This could be from other pets in the household, worm eggs being carried on people’s shoes and from ingesting fleas while grooming, since fleas can contain tapeworm eggs.'
According to Mr Thiem, cat’s worms can cause illness in humans when their larvae lodge in organs such as the eyes, liver, heart, and brain.
'To err on the safe side, worm monthly,' the expert said.
On rare occasions, both tapeworms and roundworms can infect humans too - with the latter known to potentially cause serious damage to children’s eyesight
Tapeworms, which, in dogs, can grow to 16 feet, roughly the height of a giraffe, hook into the lining of a pet's bowels and develop long ribbon-like bodies - with symptoms including diarrhoea, lack of energy, weight loss, and more
Research of 1,000 cat owners commissioned by the worming medication producers has found just 23 per cent had de-wormed their cat in the last month
Roundworm and some types of tapeworm can be passed on to people and may cause disease and even blindness
According to White Cross Vets, cats and dogs preventative worming treatment is easy to administer, but you must routinely do this to ensure your pet doesn’t get worms
Roundworms – which as the name suggest have round bodies – are the most common intestinal worm in dogs and cats.
They consume partially digested food in the intestines of our pets and produce microscopic eggs which are then passed in our pet’s faeces.
Meanwhile, tapeworms are made up of many small segments carrying eggs and in dogs can grow to 16 feet, roughly the height of a giraffe.
Tapeworms hook into the lining of a pet's bowels and develop long ribbon-like bodies, triggering symptoms such as diarrhoea, lack of energy and weight loss.
Research of 1,000 cat owners commissioned by the worming medication producers has found just 23 per cent had de-wormed their cat in the last month.
