PARASITE PREVENTION

Parasites may be more common than you think. Flees, ticks, and worms are frequent visitors to pets.

COMPANION ANIMAL PARASITE COUNCIL (CAPC) RECOMMENDATIONS

  • The CAPC recommends that all puppies should be dewormed starting 2 weeks of age and every 2 weeks until 2 months of age, and then monthly until the pet is 6 months old.

  • Conduct fecal examinations two to four times a year in adult pets, depending upon patient health and lifestyle factors..

  • Administer year round broad spectrum parasite control with efficacy against heartworm, intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks. .

  • Pets should be fed cooked or prepared food, and provided fresh potable water.

  • Sandboxes should be covered when not in use and garden areas should be protected from fecal contamination..

  • Feces should be picked up immediately whenever walking the dog in public areas. Feces in the backyard environment should be removed every day.

Common Internal Parasites in Dogs and Cats

Roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms are the common internal parasites. These parasites live in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and can cause diarrhea, anemia, and weight loss. Roundworms in large numbers can cause signs of gastrointestinal obstruction. Puppies and kittens can acquire worms from their mother.

Tapeworms - Fleas can carry tapeworms to animals they infect. Tapeworms can also be transmitted to dogs and cats by consumption of rodents or raw meat. Tapeworm infestation may only be noticeable when it presents with worm segments (like bits of rice) around the pet’s anus.

Lung worm - These worms, as the name sounds, dwell in the lungs and cause respiratory problems. Dogs that spend a lot of time in the woods are at higher risk of contracting this parasite.

Toxoplasmosis - This is a disease caused by the parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which can be found in the garden soil and raw meat. Cats can get toxoplasma infection by killing and eating prey affected by the parasite. Toxoplasmosis can also be passed on from cats to humans through contact with cat feces. If a women is infected while pregnant, it can lead to developmental problems of the child to be born. To try to prevent exposure to toxoplasmosis, make sure you thoroughly cook meat, clean vegetables from the garden, and handle soil or litter boxes with gloves and washing your hands after.

Heart worm - Heart worm resides in the heart and causes heart and lung disease. It is transmitted by mosquitoes. It can be prevented by taking monthly prophylactic medication.

 
 

Common External Parasites on Dogs and Cats

Fleas are the most common and important ectoparasites from a medical and veterinary standpoint. Fleas can transmit other parasites to your pets. Fleas are the major cause of skin irritation which can make pets bite or scratch themselves. Pets may even be allergic to fleas causing them severe itch even if there are flew flea bites. The adult fleas that you see on your pet represents just 5% of the flea infestation. The remaining 95% of the fleas are in the house in the form of eggs, larvae and pupae ( immature fleas). There are many effective and safe treatment options available.

Ticks feed on the blood of animals and can cause health problems such as blood loss, anemia, tick paralysis, and skin irritation or infection. They can also spread diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever; all of which can cause serious disease and death. There are very effective treatments to prevent tick bites.

MITES

There are several type of mites that affect the dogs and cats.

Ear Mites - These are small parasites that can infest the ear canals and surrounding skin, causing extreme itching. An infected pet will scratch their ears excessively to the point of self mutilation and shake their head. The treatment requires applying medication in the ear canals or topically on the skin.

Sarcoptic Mites - This is a very contagious skin disease in dogs, caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. These mites burrow through the skin, causing intense itching. This condition is contagious for other animals and humans.

Demodectic Mites - This mite is the most common ectoparasite in dogs. It is known as Demodex canis. This causes itching, hair loss, thickening of the skin, weight loss, and unthrifty hair coat. There are many treatments available to tackle this disease. Some treatment requires dips and baths, others are oral medications or topical medications applied on the skin.

Lice - They are small insects that suck blood or chew on the skin of your pet. Lice cause intense itching and scratching. All crawling and biting can make pets crazy. The good news is that lice rarely cause long lasting problems.