PET owners have admitted to being horrified as a result of not working their pets.
One third of cat and owners have been left experiencing from the fatal mistake.
Research of 2,000 pet owners revealed their furry friends have had restless and aggressive behaviour, loss from constant scratching – all signs of worms.
They've even found worm segments on bedding and in faeces or vomit were the top signs they’d encountered.
Seven in 10 (68 per cent) felt squeamish at the thought of their pet having worms, although nearly a quarter reported they had suffered from worms in the past, twice on average.
And when shown a microscopic image of a real worm, eight in 10 believed the parasites resemble the creatures from a horror or alien movie.
As a result, Drontal has released a set of fictional posters based on ‘alien’ invaders that find a home in your pet’s intestine, entitled ‘The Purrasite Within’ and ‘The Furmidable Infestation’.
The posters, hand-drawn and painted by artist Graham Humphreys, also included the taglines, ‘a nightmare in nine lives’ and ‘your best friend just got unwelcome visitors’.
Humphreys is known for his work on classic artworks for A Nightmare on Elm Street, Drawing Blood, and Castle of the Living Dead.
Vet and founder of global animal health , Worldwide Veterinary Service, Luke Gamble said: “No cat or wants their pet to get worms, and these posters perfectly dramatise how revolting they are to behold.
“Not only do they look horrible, but it’s unpleasant for the pet too.
“Thankfully, there is a way to defend your from these ‘purrasites’ and also get rid of them if they do invade your pet and make an unwelcome appearance in your home.”;
The poll also revealed 42 per cent forget to worm them when it’s due for treatment.
Owners also admitted to not worming their pets for reasons such as lack of symptoms (23 per cent), difficulty getting their furry friend to take its tablets (18 per cent), not thinking it was a risk (17 per cent), and not knowing it was needed (12 per cent).
Yet only 36 per cent believe pets should be wormed every three months, according to the OnePoll.com data.
And 23 per cent think it should be done monthly, while 13 per cent suggested twice a year, and 11 per cent were unaware of the recommended frequency.
In fact, the advised worming schedule is usually either once a month or once every three months, depending on your pet’s lifestyle.
Worryingly, only 20 per cent said they feel confident identifying if their feline or canine companions were host to worms.
When asked what the symptoms might be, those that were surveyed via OnePoll.com highlighted an itchy bottom (60 per cent), visible worm segments (46 per cent), and weight loss (46 per cent).
Despite this, 19 per cent admitted they were not overly concerned about the impact of worms on their pet’s health, and 37 per cent were unaware that some worms can also infect humans.
Speaking in collaboration with Drontal which are available for both cats and , Luke Gamble added: “If you don’t know your pet has experienced worms – and you often won’t – due to the lack of signs – then it’s understandable you might not be that worried about your animal getting them.
“But actually, the effects can be quite scary and serious.
“So, to avoid the horrors of parasitic worms invading your pets – and your own bed – it’s advisable to stick to a regular routine of giving your beloved pet its worming tablets.
“And keep the ‘horror’ of worms firmly in the imagination – and on these posters.”;
