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Internal Parasite Information
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Coccidia
Clinical Signs:
- Upset stomach. Could cause vomiting.
- Weight loss.
- Diarrhea – watery, could have mucus or blood.
- Stress can bring it out.
- Coccidia are not visible to the naked eye.
Where does it come from?
- Ingesting the coccidia.
- Contaminated dirt or grass that pet comes in contact with.
Testing:
- Fecal sample ran in the veterinary hospital
Treatment:
- Deworming and retesting a fecal sample in 3 – 4 weeks.
- Antidiarrheal medication may be given.
- Remove poop from the yard.
Zoonotic Potential:
- Yes, humans can catch this by ingesting contaminated poop
- Practice good hygiene! Wash your hands after handling poop or playing with pet.
- Contact a human physician if you or your family become infected
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Giardia
Clinical signs:
- Weight loss
- May become watery and contain mucus.
- Gassy
- Vomiting is a possibility.
- Giardia are not visible to the naked eye.
Where do they come from?
- Drinking contaminated water.
- Ingesting contaminated poop.
Testing:
- Fecal sample ran at the veterinary hospital
Treatment:
- Deworming and retesting another poop sample in 3 – 4 weeks.
- Antidiarrheal medication may be given.
- Wash pets bedding in hot water.
- Clean up any poop from yard.
- Wash pet bedding in hot water.
Zoonotic Potential:
- Yes, humans can catch this by ingesting contaminated poop or contaminated water.
- Practice good hygiene! Wash your hands after handling poop or playing with pet.
- Grassy areas can be contaminated for at least 1 month.
- Contact a human physician if you or your family become infected
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Hookworm
Clinical signs:
- Hookworms attach to the intestinal wall and feed on blood. Causing pale gums.
- Watery diarrhea or black and tarry.
- Distended abdomen and a poor coat quality.
- Not hungry.
- Hookworms are not visible to the naked eye.
Where do they come from?
- From mother to puppy/kitten in the womb or when nursing.
- Ingesting the hookworm.
- They can penetrate the skin.
Testing:
- Fecal sample ran at the veterinary hospital.
Treatment:
- Deworming and retesting another poop sample in 3 – 4 weeks.
- Clean up all fecal matter out of the yard.
- Monthly oral heartworm prevention also deworms at the same time.
- Wash pet bedding in hot water.
Zoonotic Potential:
- Yes, humans can catch this by ingesting contaminated poop.
- Practice good hygiene! Wash your hands after handling poop or playing with pet.
- Hookworms can penetrate skin, so wear shoes when around an infected pet or yard.
- They like sandy beaches and moist soil.
- Can cause cutaneous larva migrans or “creeping eruption”.
Contact a human physician if you or your family become infected. |
Roundworm
Clinical Signs:
- Diarrhea, vomiting, enlarged abdomen in puppies and kittens.
- Diarrhea in adult dogs and cats.
- Roundworms look like “cooked spaghetti noodles” in poop.
- Visually seeing worms in the poop.
Where do they come from?
- From mother to puppy/kitten in the womb or when nursing.
- By ingesting the roundworm egg.
- By sniffing the ground and inhaling eggs.
Testing:
- Fecal sample ran in the veterinary hospital.
Treatment:
- Deworming and then retesting a fecal sample in 3 to 4 weeks.
- Clean up all poop out of the yard. Do not let your pet eat poop.
- Monthly oral heartworm prevention also deworms at the same time.
- Wash pet bedding in hot water.
Zoonotic Potential:
- Yes, humans can catch this by ingesting contaminated poop.
- Practice good hygiene! Wash your hands after handling poop or playing with pet.
- Sandboxes can become litterboxes. Use with caution.
- Contact a human physician if you or your family become infected.
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Tapeworm
Clinical signs:
- Tapeworm segments can be seen on poop. Looks like “rice”.
- Pets may scoot their rear end on the ground.
- Segments maybe found around the tail area of the pet.
- Dried segments can also be found on bedding material.
Where do they come from?
- From fleas. Fleas become infected when they ingest the tapeworm embryo. This is why flea prevention is so important.
Testing:
- A fecal sample ran in the veterinary hospital.
- Visually seeing the segments on the tail area of the pet.
Treatment:
- Deworming and then retesting another poop sample in 3 – 4 weeks.
- Treat all pets and the house for fleas.
- Vacuum all floors, curtains and couches. Throw the vacuum bag out. Fleas can crawl out of vacuums.
- Wash all pet bedding in hot water.
- Clean up all poop out of the yard.
- Interceptor the monthly oral heartworm prevention deworms at the same time.
Zoonotic Potential:
- Yes, humans can catch this by ingesting a flea infected with a tapeworm.
- Practice good hygiene! Wash your hands after cleaning up after or playing with your pet. Contact a human physician if you or your family become infected.
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Whipworms
Clinical Signs:
- Whipworms attach to the intestinal wall and feed on blood.
- Weight loss.
- Poor coat quality.
- Poop may contain blood.
- Whipworms are not visible to the naked eye.
Where do they come from?
- By ingesting the whipworm egg.
- They can live in the environment for years. Hard to get rid of.
- By sniffing the ground and inhaling eggs.
Testing:
- Fecal sample ran in the veterinary hospital.
Treatment:
- Deworming and retesting another poop sample in 3 – 4 weeks.
- Monthly oral Heartworm prevention also deworms at the same time.
- Clean up poop out of the yard.
- Wash pet bedding in hot water or replace it. Eggs are hardy and impossible to destroy.
Zoonotic Potential:
- Yes, humans can catch this by ingesting contaminated poop
- Whipworm eggs are hardy and hard to get rid of.
- Practice good hygiene! Wash your hands after handling poop or playing with pet.
- Contact a human physician if you or your family become infected.
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