Parasites and Pets

A parasite commonly refers to an organism that lives on or inside another organism.¹ More importantly, a parasitic relationship is one in which one member of the association benefits while the other is harmed.² Making the short list of parasites common to pets are fleas, ticks, mites and worms. This particular post will focus on worms, specifically intestinal worms. (We’ll save heartworms for another day.)

There are four basic, common types of intestinal worms found in dogs and cats. They are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. It is IMPORTANT to note that all worms are contagious and can spread, not only to other pets but to humans as well. As with many afflictions and ailments, prevention is usually easier and less expensive than treatment.

Roundworms (ascarids) – large, cream colored worms that usually grow 10-15 cm long and look similar to spaghetti. May show no outward signs of infection. Very common in puppies. Can be ingested (with rodent, bird, etc. or through mother’s milk) Can be born infected.

Hookworms – Normally about ½” to ¾” long and found in small intestines. Lives on blood and tissue. Female can shed 25,000 eggs a day. Hookworms can be ingested or can penetrate the skin.

Whipworms – More common to dogs than cats. Attach to large intestine and feed on blood. Transmitted solely by the ingestion of eggs which are especially hardy, surviving in soil for years, even in frigid climates.

Tapeworms – There are two different species of tapeworm. Most likely to be visible, usually as small, flattened rice-looking segments in stool or around pet’s rear. Requires an immediate host so must be ingested within a host (birds, rodents, etc.). Most dangerous of the four to humans.

Signs and Symptoms
Internal parasites can cause a multitude of problems but sometimes the cause may not be recognized immediately prolonging the infection and worsening the damage, even resulting in death.

Some common results are:

• Pot-belly
• Pale (whitish) gums
• Diarrhea
• Nausea/vomiting
• Weight loss
• Lethargic (lack of energy)
• Bloody stool
• Worms visible in feces
• Obstructed bowels
• Severe anemia
• Respiratory distress
• Liver damage
• Lung damage
• Death

How did my dog get worms?
Nearly all puppies are born with some internal parasites and those that aren’t usually get them from nursing (as do some kittens). There are many OTC dewormers for both kittens and puppies. It is equally important to treat your pet, your home and your yard for fleas. One very common way for one type of tapeworm to be transmitted is by ingesting fleas which act as hosts. Your dog may get bit by a flea and if scratching fails he may chew or gnaw at the spot to alleviate the problem. In so doing, he may also consume the flea and consequently the tapeworm embryo.

Other ways that your pet can become infected are:

• Nursing off the mother (bitch or queen)
• Coprophagia (eating feces – actually it is the egg or larvae within the feces)
• Through the skin or a wound
• Ingesting another host such as rodents or birds.

Treatment:
Many parasites cannot be detected by the naked eye. If you suspect that your pet may have worms, you should consult your veterinarian. Your vet can do a blood test or fecal exam to check for most parasites. Most can be treated easily enough but require regular treatments as a means of prevention.
Do-It-Yourselfers take note - Puppies should be wormed with Pyrantel Pamoate beginning at 2 weeks, then 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks. After 4 weeks of age, you may add a praziquantel product for tapeworm or after 6 weeks, you may switch to a product with fenbendazole (Safe-guard/Panacur) to treat one of the types of tapeworm as well as hook, round and whip. After 12 weeks, you may switch to a more comprehensive dewormer such as WormX Plus by Virbac, the only OTC wormer that kills all of the worms including both types of tapeworm. Unless you have reason to suspect an occurrence, you may use this product every 4 to 6 months for prevention (along with the other tips mentioned above). Please be aware, if you do not see the vet, if you insist on treating your pet yourself, it may take 2 or 3 treatments to completely rid the system of all the worms and eggs. Some treatments can be repeated in 10 days.

Because cats seem to have a more sensitive system, there are fewer OTC treatments approved for use in cats or kittens. Piperazine products in liquid or paste form can be used for roundworms and praziquantel for tapeworms.

One other option for cats, dogs, kittens, puppies, birds, ferrets, hamsters, rabbits and most other pets is a natural, homeopathic treatment called HomeoPet® Wrm Clear. It treats roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms and is 100% natural. It is vet approved and has no known side-effects after more than 12 years of research.

An Ounce of Prevention
Of course, prevention is usually easier and cheaper than treatment but it is especially important with parasites.

• A recent national survey showed that 19% of dogs were infected with hookworms.³ This is one of the less common worms.
• A single female roundworm can produce up to 100,000 eggs per day.⁴
• Some Parasite eggs can survive in soil for years.
• Children, the elderly and immune-compromised are at the greatest risk.
• As few as 50 hookworms can be fatal to a puppy.⁵

In 2 weeks time, 2 puppies infected with roundworms can completely contaminate a 2800 sq. ft. yard.⁶

• A study from Connecticut published in 2005 found that more than 25% of soil samples from playgrounds are contaminated with Toxocara* eggs.⁷

* Toxocara is another name for roundworms and infection in humans can cause brain damage, meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy, loss of visual acuity, or unilateral blindness.

REMEMBER to clean your home thoroughly when you treat your pet. There may be thousands, hundreds of thousands of eggs lying about. Clear your cat’s litter box DAILY if not more often. Once a week, you should clean and scrub the pan with diluted bleach. (Never use anything with phenol!) Another alternative is disposable litter boxes. Make sure your pet has clean, fresh water always. Stainless steel bowls are better than plastic because they will not hold the smell of the disinfectant. ALWAYS take a new pet to the vet before introducing him/her to your home and other pets or kids. Be sure and clean up after your outside pets as well. The infection can stay in the soil for years.

Protect yourself and your family:

1. Wash your hands well after contact with an animal
2. Do not allow children to put dirt in their mouths
3. Pick up dog and cat waste from your yard daily
4. Cover sandboxes
5. Have pet tested at least once a year.
6. Eat only well-cooked meals
7. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables
8. Change/clean litter box regularly
9. Use flea control treatments year-round

Next time – Declawing your cat – Necessary or Cruel

As always, information given here is meant to be helpful and/or educational. It is, in no way, intended to supersede, challenge or supplant the diagnosis, treatment or advice of a licensed veterinarian.

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CITATIONS

¹ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite
² http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiosis
³ Blagburn, B. “Prevalence of Canine and Feline Parasites in the United States,” Supp Compendium on Continuing Education, Vol.23, No. 6(A), 2001.
⁴ Kazacos, KR: Protecting children from helminthic zoonosis. Contemp Pediatr 2000; 17(3) (Suppl): pp. 1-24.
⁵ Bowman, Dwight D: Georgis’ Parasitology for Veterinarians. Saunders, St. Louis, MO, pp. 186, 207-209, 2003.
⁶ Birmingham, Jo: Zoonotic Concerns Put Veterinarians on the Front Lines, Leaders Urge Heightened Vigilance. Vet Forum, 2006 July: 28.
⁷ Hotez, Peter; www.petsandparasites.org; Reducing the Risks; 2007

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