Skin Parasites:
Fleas & Ticks
Besides being major irritants to your pet’s skin, fleas and ticks carry a number of diseases that can potentially be fatal to your pet. Some of these diseases can also be transmitted to people from a flea or tick bite, so controlling these parasites on your pet is very important. These critters are constantly evolving, developing drug resistances, and increasing in numbers in our environment. Check your pets frequently for these unwanted passengers. Ticks are most commonly found in the head and ear regions and fleas on the back and tail areas of your pets, but either can really be anywhere. Even totally indoor pets can get a flea infestation. Any signs of itchy skin should raise your suspicions. We always will have the most current and effective treatments available for your pet.
Mites, Chiggers, and Lice
Two major groups of mites (Scabies, and Demodex) are most commonly found on our pets’ skin and another group (Otodectes) in the ears. They can be very itchy resulting in extensive hair loss and secondary skin infections and/or may cause a not so itchy patchy “moth-eaten” pattern of hair loss. Chiggers and lice are less common but also can cause major skin problems. Mites, chiggers, and lice are commonly diagnosed by microscopic examination of skin scrapings and hair plucks and a complete visual examination of the skin. Ear parasites are usually identified by a microscopic examination of ear wax and debris. In general, while most of these pet parasites may bite us and cause us to itch, they cannot live on our skin but can transfer to our other pets. Treatments are specific to the type of parasite.
Heartworms:
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease affecting the heart in dogs and more rarely in cats. It is caused by worms, Dirofilaria immitis, which grow to fill up the heart chambers and is diagnosed by a blood test. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, so keep in mind that even long hair or being inside cannot protect your pet completely. This disease is best treated by having your dog take a monthly preventative which eradicates the disease before it can take hold. If your pet should develop this disease it is treatable in the early stages, usually before symptoms of heart failure develop. We recommend testing all dogs yearly, or at a minimum of every two years, even while on preventative, so we can catch and treat before heart damage is severe.
Intestinal Parasites:
Coccidia
Coccidia are not worms, but instead a type of one-celled organism called a protozoa, that live and multiply in the intestinal tract. They block the absorption of nutrients resulting in a foul smelling, often yellow colored, diarrhea. They are most commonly problematic in young puppies and kittens. Over-the-counter “wormers” are not an effective treatment, rather a specific antibiotic is used. They are diagnosed by a microscopic examination of your pet’s stool.
Giardia
Giardia are a very common cause of diarrhea that can be readily transmitted between people and animals. They are common in contaminated water and are very hardy in the environment. It is very important that hand washing after handling of pets be practiced by all members of the family. They are diagnosed by a microscopic examination of your pet’s stool. Cleaning up the environment (pooper scoopering) is important to prevent reinfection. Treatment is by administering a prescription.
Hookworms
Hookworms received their name because of the characteristic hook-like mouthparts that they use to attach to the lining of the intestinal wall. These are “blood suckers” and can quickly cause severe anemia, especially in young animals. They are diagnosed by finding the eggs released from the attached adults. These eggs are found by microscopic examination of your pet’s stool. The larvae hatching in the contaminated soil can even migrate through the skin, including into our own bare feet! Fortunately these larvae cannot overwinter in our climate, but are a problem in the tropics. Cleaning up the environment (scooping) and treating with the correct medication are important.
Roundworms
Roundworms represent a very common intestinal parasite found in dogs and cats. Typically, they are large, heavy-bodied worms and average 3-5 inches in length and they live in the intestines, consuming partially digested food. While they are best diagnosed by microscopic examination of your pet’s stool for the eggs released by the adults worms, in heavy infestations you may actually see these adult worms in stool or vomit from your pet. Yuck! They are treated by appropriate medications; and again, cleaning up the environment is important.
Tapeworms
The most common tapeworm of dogs (and cats) is called Dipylidium caninum. This parasite attaches to the small intestinal wall by hook-like mouthparts. Adult tapeworms may reach 8 inches (20 cm) in length and are made up of many small segments about 1/8 inch (3 mm) long. As the tail end of the worm matures, the terminal segments break off and pass into the stool. It is generally by you seeing these small segments in a pet’s stool that a tapeworm infestation is identified. Microscopic examination of the stool may miss this parasite because the segments only break off intermittently. If you see a flat creamy ribbon or rice like particle moving on a fresh stool or crawling around your pet’s anus or even where your pet recently was sitting (Yuck!) we will dispense the correct medication.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by an one-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The cat is unique in that it is the definitive host of the parasite, meaning the parasite must pass through the cat to complete it’s life cycle. Human exposure is most commonly through eating incompletely cooked meats (from cattle eating from grain bins contaminated with cat feces) and potentially directly by handling soil or cat litter infected with parasite. This parasite can be damaging to unborn human babies if exposure occurs at specific times during the pregnancy. Diagnosis is by microscopic examination of your cat’s stool sample and treatment by appropriate medications. If your family is expecting a baby and you are around cats, please talk to us about ways to prevent exposure and about questions to ask your doctor. Read more about toxoplasmosis.
Whipworms
Whipworms are yet a another intestinal parasite affecting dogs . They parasitize the lower intestine (cecum and colon) and cause signs related to intestinal irritation. They are named after a characteristic “whip” or “lash” at one end. Diagnosis is by microscopic examination of the stool for the eggs, but it may take multiple tests because the adults only release the eggs intermittently. Once soil is contaminated with whipworms eggs it is extremely difficult to remove them from the environment. Once the worm has been diagnosed and treated appropriately, certain of our available heartworm preventatives, because they are given monthly, can help control reinfection from the environment.
Miscellaneous Parasites:
Parasites are always evolving and expanding their ranges and there are a number of less common ones that we will see in our pets. Traveling to other areas of the U.S. and abroad increases the likelihood of picking up parasites less common to our part of the country. It is important when discussing your pet’s health to tell us about any unusual signs or symptoms and of any traveling your pet has done.