Coccidia can infect both dogs and cats. The most common species of coccidia is Isospora. The most common route of infection is via ingestion of feces contaminated with infective oocysts. Symptoms include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration. Coccidiosis is usually associated with other infectious agents, stress, or immunosuppression. Treatment involves 2 doses of Marquis paste ®, 2 weeks apart, or the use of Sulfadimethoxine.
Roundworms
Otherwise known as ascariasis, roundworms can infect both dogs and cats. These worms are quite common in puppies and kittens since the most common route of infection in transplacental transfer. These worms, which resemble spaghetti, can also be passed through ingestion of infected fecal material. Symptoms include loss of condition, dull hair coat, “potbellied” appearance, and the voiding of worms in vomitus or feces. Migrating larvae may cause pneumonia, liver disease, and enteritis. Treatment involves deworming with such products as Interceptor ®, Advantage-Multi ®, or Drontal ®.
Roundworm eggs may be ingested by humans, leading to conditions known as visceral larva migrans, and ocular larva migrans, where larva develop within the human body and migrate to different locations. This is why ensuring that your pet is appropriately dewormed year round, is of the utmost importance, especially with children in the house.
Hookworms
Hookworms can infect both dogs and cats. These worms are smaller than the roundworm. The most common routes of infection include ingestion of infective larvae from the environment, or via the colostrum or milk of an infected bitch. Some species of hookworm may even cause infection from larval invasion of the skin. Symptoms include loss of condition, anorexia, anemia, diarrhea (dark and tarry), and weakness. Treatment involves deworming with such products as Interceptor ®, Advantage-Multi ®, and Drontal ®, as well as Revolution ® for cats.
Whipworms
Whipworms, otherwise known as Trichuris vulpis, can only infect dogs. The most common route of infection is via ingestion of feces containing infective eggs. Symptoms are not usually seen in light infections, but as the burden increases, weight loss and diarrhea are seen. Sometimes fresh blood may be seen in the feces, which may be followed by anemia in severe infections. Treatment involves deworming with such products as Interceptor ®, Advantage-Multi ®, and Drontal ®.
Tapeworms
There are a few types of tapeworms that can infect both dogs and cats. Dipylidium caninum can infect both dogs and cats, and is acquired from fleas. Taenia taeniaeformis can infect both dogs and cat, and is acquired from mice and rats. Symptoms include unthriftiness, malaise, irritability, increased appetite, shaggy coat, and diarrhea. Treatment involves deworming with such products as Drontal ®, Milbemax ®, and Cestex ®.
Ear Mites
Ear mites, otherwise known as Otodectes cynotis, infect both dogs and cats. Ear mites are extremely contagious. They invade the ear canal and cause intense irritation and pruritis. The debris found in the ear canal with a severe infestation has the appearance of coffee grounds. Symptoms include, shaking of the head, scratching of the ears, and a dark brown/black exudates in the ear canals. Infection may develop secondarily if left untreated. Treatment involves the use of products such as Revolution ®, Advantage-Multi ®, and Milbemax ®.
Fleas
Fleas, otherwise known as Ctenocephalides felis and canis, can infect both dogs and cats. Adult fleas start as eggs, which develop into larvae, then pupae, and finally adult fleas, which feed on the blood of those animals which they infect. Symptoms may be very mild, to intense itching, red lesions, hair loss, and in the worst cases, flea allergy dermatitis. Often, it is possible to see “flea dirt” on the skin, in between hairs. This is actually dried blood, which is excreted as fecal material from the adult fleas. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, among other parasites, as well as bacteria. Prevention and treatment of fleas involves the use of such products as Advantage ®, Advantage-Multi ®, Advantix ®, Revolution ®, and Sentinel ® .
Heartworm
Heartworm, otherwise known as Dirofilaria immitis, can infect both dogs and cats. Heartworm is spread via the mosquito. The mosquito ingests the blood of an infected animal, which contains tiny larvae (microfilariae). The microfilariae develop into larger larvae within the mosquito and are then transferred into another animal, when the mosquito bites. These larvae then migrate to the right side of the heart, where they develop into adults, sometimes the length of 14 inches. Severely infected dogs can have up to several hundreds of adult worms in their heart, which can live up to 5-7 years. It takes about 6-7 months for the larvae to develop into adults and to lay more microfilariae, which are actually what is detected on a heartworm test. Symptoms of heartworm include decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, and cough. In severe infections, the adult worms can actually lead to right-sided heart failure, causing liver damage, ascites, and other organ failure. Treatment for heartworm infection is very expensive and dangerous, depending on the severity. Death can occur with treatment in severe infections. This is why prevention is very important! Heartworm prevention includes the use of products such as Advantage-Multi ®, Revolution ®, Heartgard ®, Interceptor ®, and Sentinel ®. Most heartworm preventatives have deworming for common intestinal parasites included. This is just one of the reasons why we are recommending that you put your dog on year-round heartworm prevention!
Giardia
Giardia is a protozoon which can infect the small intestine of dogs and cats. It is also zoonotic, meaning that it can be spread to humans. Giardia is spread by ingestion of the cyst form of the parasite from infected feces, contaminated water or lawns. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. Giardia is very difficult to diagnose since the protozoa are so small and they are not passed with every bowel movement. Treatment includes the use of drugs such as Fenbendazole and/or Metronidazole.
Mange Mites
There are several different types of mange that can infect your pet. Sarcoptes scabiei, otherwise known as sarcoptic mange, or scabies, is the most common type of mange and infects mostly dogs, although cats may also be affected. Symptoms include intense pruritis and hair loss mostly on the elbows, ears, armpits, hocks, chest and ventral abdomen. If severe enough, red pustules and yellow crusts may also develop. Skin scrapings are often used to diagnose mange, although they are not always diagnostic. Treatment includes the use of products such as Advantage-Multi ® and Revolution ®. Demodex canis, otherwise known as Demodectic mange, is another type of mite which can infect dogs. Demodex infects dogs with poor immune response, such as the elderly or very young. Demodex may be localized or generalized. Symptoms include hair loss, and crusty, red skin. Usually it starts around the muzzle, the eyes, and other parts of the head. Diagnosis, like scabies, is with skin scrapings, which are often non-diagnostic. Dogs can also develop secondary skin infections in severe cases.
Treatment involves the use of liquid ivermectin or other ivermectin-based products such as Interceptor ®.
Ticks
Ticks are a common external parasite of many animals, including dogs. Ticks can spread many diseases including Lyme disease (Ixodes species), and Ehrlichial diseases (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Ticks can be prevented by using products such as Advantage-Multi ®, Advantix ®, and Revolution ®.
How to remove a tick??
Grasp the tick by the head (right where it enters the skin). Do not grasp it by the body, the tick will leave its head behind!
Pull steadily, in one swift motion backwards to remove the tick.
Do not use alcohol, petroleum jelly etc. These products do not help to remove the tick, but rather they may cause the tick to release even more toxic saliva into your pet.
Place the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it. Flushing it down the toilet will NOT kill it.
Clean any wound that remains with disinfectant and wash your hands thoroughly.
Toxoplasmosis
Cats are the only primary host of Toxoplasma gondii. Cats may become infected from eating contaminated uncooked meat, ingested of infected prey, or as kittens in utero or through infected milk. Humans may be infected via ingestion of a cat’s feces, meat or raw milk from an infected goat. Disease is more common in those with suppressed immune systems. Symptoms include fever, anorexia, and depression. As well, it can cause pneumonia, heart arrhythmias, seizures, jaundice, vomiting and diarrhea. In humans, toxoplasmosis can cause abortions and congenital defects. Treatment includes the use of an antibiotic called Clindamycin.
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