Parasites and your Pet

If you’ve ever had a kitten or puppy, chances are you remember that yellow dewormer liquid given to them during their first few veterinary visits. It can often be a comical experience watching them either lap up the sweet-tasting medicine or putting up quite a fight. Regardless, most people know that deworming kittens and puppies is important to good health. But what about deworming adults cats and dogs?

 

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends regular deworming of both cats and dogs. Pets that receive heartworm prevention have the added benefit of being dewormed for intestinal parasites each month. For animals not on heartworm prevention, annual deworming is recommended for the health of your pet. Regular deworming will also lessen contamination of the environment with the eggs of parasites, which can present a risk to other pets as well as people.

 

When it comes to annual deworming, what kind of parasites are we preventing?

 

DOGS

  • roundworms-These are the most common intestinal parasite in dogs. In fact, according to CAPC, most dogs get roundworms at some time in their lives. Dogs may or may not show signs of infection. This is a zoonotic parasite, meaning it can spread to humans.
  • hookworms-Because these parasites attach to the intestinal lining and feed on blood, hookworms can be a serious problem, both in puppies and adults. As with roundworms, they can be transmitted to people.
  • whipworms-Infections can range from no symptoms to bloody diarrhea. whipworm infections can be difficult to diagnose on fecal exam.
  • tapeworms-These are a common parasite that usually result from your dog eating an infected flea. The only symptom is the presence of the characteristic segments near the rear end. Flea control is key in preventing tapeworms, although some pets on flea control will still get the occasional tapeworm.

CATS

  • roundworms-As with dogs, these are the most common internal parasite, and most cats will become infected at some point in their lives.
  • hookworms-Hookworms affect cats in the same way they affect dogs.
  • tapeworms-These are very common, both in indoor and outdoor cats. Symptoms include the rice-like segments (or sesame-seed like if dried) near the rear end. Flea control is essential to help prevent infection.

Your veterinarian can discuss the best option for preventing intestinal parasites in your cat or dog. 1st Care recommends complete deworming with Drontal Plus chewable for dogs and Profender topical for cats in addition to doing an initial Fecal test with New puppies and kittens and annually for adult dogs and cats.