Puppy Care: the 411 on parasites

Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, oh my!  All of these horrid sounding parasites can wreck havoc with your puppy’s health.  To keep your puppy safe from a parasitic infection, here is everything that you need to know about parasites

We will test a stool sample every time your puppy comes in until there are 2 samples with no parasites seen.  This is how we can find out whether your pup is infected or not.  Most puppies are born with microscopically small roundworm larvae and, unfortunately, these pests can cause everything from vomiting to fatigue if left untreated. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that 34% of dogs in the United States are infected with intestinal parasites!

Round worm   Roundworms

  • Long, spaghetti-like in appearance
  • Cause diarrhea, vomiting
  • Seen occasionally in vomit or stool
  • Zoonotic:  can be transmitted to humans 

 Hookworm  Hookworms

  • Thread-like worms 
  • Attach themselves to intestinal wall; suck blood from intestine 
  • Left untreated, can result in potentially life-threatening blood loss, weakness and malnutrition 
  • Zoonotic:  can be transmitted to humans. 1-3 million people are infected by their pets every year 

 Tapeworm  Tapeworms

  • Long, segmented worms
  • Caused by dog swallowing a flea that is carrying a tapeworm egg
  • Tapeworms may be seen in the stool as small, ivory colored rice-like segments

 Whipworm  Whipworms

  • Intestinal parasites about a ¼ inch long
  • Pass microscopic eggs in the stool
  • Causes  watery, bloody diarrhea, weight loss

 Giardia  Giardia

  • Single celled parasites
  • Attach themselves to the intestinal wall
  • Causes sudden, foul smelling diarrhea
  • Source:  contaminated water (streams, ponds, lakes)
    Zoonotic:  can be transmitted to humans

 Coccidia  Coccidia

  • Single celled protozoa
  • Destroys the intestinal lining
  • Can cause diarrhea

 Heartworms  Heartworms

  • Carried by mosquitoes
  • Cause serious heart and lung disease
  • Monthly heartworm protection must be continued year round to prevent infection
  • Yearly heartworm blood test

 External Parasites:

 Fleas   Fleas

  • Live on the skin; feed on the blood of their hosts
  • Can cause skin irritation, inflammation and deadly anemia if present in large enough numbers
  • Products used to control them:  Sentinel, Capstar, Revolution, Frontline, Trifexis, Comfortis

Deer tick  Ticks

  • Live on the skin; feed on the blood of their hosts
  • Transmit several diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Babesiosis
  • Present everywhere from deep woods to urban parks
  • Products to control ticks: Scalibor tick collar, Frontline, Revolution

 Zoonotic – What Is It?  Should I Worry?

Some parasites are zoonotic, meaning that they can infect people as well as animals.  Some humans are more at risk than others:

  • Infants and small children – immature immune systems, poor hygiene – hands in mouth, etc.
  • Pregnant women – immune systems are more susceptible and there are additional fetal hazards
  • Elderly – immune systems may be impaired
  • Immunocompromised people – undergoing cancer therapy, HIV/AIDS patients, etc.

How can I become infected?

Roundworms:  oral contact – not washing your hands after working with litter boxes or working in soil contaminated with infected feces.

Hookworms:  penetrate through the skin after you have worked in contaminated soil, whether through gardening or walking barefoot in the yard, at the beach, or in a park.

Giardia:  oral contact or by drinking water from streams or lakes.