Gastrointestinal Parasites

Gastrointestinal Parasites are a prevelant threat to your pet and to your family.

There are many organisms that can infect your pets' digestive system. Most commonly seen are:
  • Roundworms
  • Hookworms
  • Whipworms
  • Tapeworms
  • Coccidia, and
  • Giardia
Puppies and Kittens are most susceptible to infection, but all pets are at risk. Pets become infected by:
  • Drinking contaminated water
  • Contact with infected feces
  • Contact with a contaminated environment (ex. grass in a public park)
  • Nursing an infected mother
  • Consuming an infected intermediate host (flea, worm, bird, rodent etc.)
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Your pet can exhibit a wide range of clinical signs including:
  • No symptoms
  • Change in appetite
  • Coughing
  • Diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
  • Weight loss
  • Lethargy
  • Vomiting
  • Rough dry haircoat
  • Some infections can even be fatal
Microscopic examination of your pets fecal material or a "fecal exam" is required for the diagnosis of an intestinal parasite infection. This test is necessary because very few of these parasites can be seen with the naked eye. Some are single-cell organisms. Usually only the parasite eggs are detected. Because many parasites shed eggs intermittenly, sometimes multiple fecals are required for the diagnosis.

Treatment of an infection varies with the type of parasite detected by the fecal exam. Our veterinarians will determine and help you implement the appropriate treatment protocol.

Many of these parasites can be zoonotic, meaning that they have the potential to infect you and your family. Roundworms and Hookworms are the most dangerous. Because the parasites eggs are passed in feces, they can quickly contaminate a large area of soil.
  • Roundworms: People (particularly children) become infected by accidently consuming infected soil, sand, grass etc. The eggs larvate (hatch) in the stomach and the larvae migrate through the liver, lungs, brain, eye and other organs. While not everyone infected shows symptoms, many people may develop permanent nerve or tissue damage, and even blindness. These conditions are known as visceral larval migrans and occular larval migrans respectively.
  • Hookworms: Hookworm eggs larvate (hatch) while in the soil or sand. These larvae then penetrate any skin that comes into contact with them (this is the reason that dogs and cats are not allowed on public beaches). The larvae produce large migration tracts as they move through the skin. This condition is known as cutaneous larval migrans. Occasionally these larvae can penetrate more deeply into the body and cause damage to the intestines and other organs.

There are preventative measures you can take to protect your family and your pets from these parasites:
  • Have your pets tested for gastro-intestinal parasites on a regular basis. We recommend at least every 6 months.
  • Start or keep your pets on a preventative drug program that treats and controls these worms. For dogs we recommend year-round Heartgard or Interceptor, and for cats we recommend a broad-spectrum dewormer given at least every 3 months.
  • Puppies and kittens need to be dewormed more frequently. Our veterinarians will outline a deworming schedual for you during your pediatric visits.
  • Avoid possibly contaminated soil, sand, plants etc.
  • Keep play areas, lawns, sandboxes, etc. freee of animal waste.
  • Obey leash laws.

If you would like more information on this subject, we encourage to visit these websites:
www.capcvet.org
www.cdc.gov/healthypets
www.healthypet.com