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Intestinal Parasites and Your
Pets
Your Pet can pick up parasites by swallowing
parasite eggs in his or her environment, or eating other wild animals, like
rodents or birds, with parasites. Infective eggs are passed in the stool
of dogs and cats who carry the parasite, and can hang out in the soil.
This is why we recommend testing a stool sample yearly on your pet, or earlier
if they are sick. Puppies and kittens should be tested two to three times
before they are six months old. Here's what you can do if your pet is
diagnosed with a parasite: First, clean up all stools in your yard.
Second, if you have children, don't allow them to play in areas where your dog
or cat defecates. Third, always wash your hands (and your children's)
after handling your pet or his or her stool until a fecal exam has verified that
the parasite has been killed off. Fourth, try to not allow your dog to eat
foreign objects or drink standing water outside. Goose poop, pond water,
and puddles are known to harbor protozoans.
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Roundworms: One of the most common parasites,
puppies and kittens are especially vulnerable since mothers can harbor a dormant
form which "awakens" during pregnancy and infects the fetus. If not
treated, large numbers of adult worms in the intestines can cause blockage or
rupture. Since the worms compete with your pet for food, symptoms include
a dry hair coat, noticeable weight loss, loose stools, stomach upset, and in
sever cases liver and lung damager. Infection occurs through eating the
egg, or from an infected mother before birth and during nursing.
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Hookworms: Less common than roundworms, hookworms
attach to the intestinal wall and feed on the blood of their host. If not
treated, anemia may result with symptoms like weakness, lethargy, and dry hair
coat. Other symptoms include tarry stools and dry cough. Hookworm is
unique because the larva have the ability to penetrate the skin and burrow to
infect the animal. Infection occurs through ingestion of the egg, an
infected mother, or skin contact with a larva. Humans can contract this
parasite through skin contact with infected larva resulting in a thin red rash,
however the parasite cannot sexually mature in humans and will die off without
treatment.
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Whipworms: This parasite will only infect dogs and
causes weight loss and diarrhea. Whipworms cannot infect humans, but are
contracted by dogs through ingestion of the egg or having a infected mother.
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Tapeworms: This parasite infects dogs and cats and
is very common. There are two common forms of tapeworm that infect dogs
and cats. One species is carried by fleas, and the other is carried by
small rodents. If you pet has fleas, or is known to eat small rodents, it
is important to watch for any symptoms of tape worm, which include seeing
rice-like segments on your pet's anus or stool, weight loss, and possibly
diarrhea. To contract this parasite your pet has to eat another carrier
(fleas or rodents). the eggs and segments are not infective. it is
possible for humans to contract tapeworm, but like you pet, you would have to
eat the carrier.
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Coccidia: This parasite is different because it is
a one-celled organism called a protozoan. This parasite (as well as
Giardia) is treated with antibiotics, not dewormers since it is not a "worm".
Symptoms if not treated include bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and dehydration.
Outdoor cats usually get coccidia from eating another host, such as a mouse or
bird. Dogs and indoor cats can get coccidia from through ingestion of the
infective cyst. Humans cannot contract coccidia.
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Giardia: Like coccidia, this parasite is a
protozoan that infects dogs and cats. If your pet has a small infestation
he or she may show no symptoms, but heavy infestations result in severe bloody
diarrhea. Infections occurs though ingestion of the cyst, contaminated
water, or contaminated food. This parasite can be contracted by humans
through eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or poor
sanitation around your infected pet.
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If you feel your pet may have any of these parasites, please
save a fresh stool sample and bring it in to the clinic for testing.
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