All About Parasites in Dogs and Cats
Think of parasites as any kind of complicated organism. Bacteria and viruses are very simple things, sometimes single-celled, and in the case of bacteria and viruses, not even cells at all. A parasite is any kind of complex organism. That doesn't necessarily mean a big organism. There are parasites that are microscopic single-celled entities, but also worms, ticks, fleas—any kind of animal that can infect your pet is a parasite.
There are many things they can do depending on the species. Many parasites suck blood. Many parasites spread other diseases in addition to the afflictions they cause. Generally speaking, parasites cause unthriftiness. They make your pet weaker because they feed off of it, taking your animal's energy for their own consumption, leaving your pet weak and unhealthy as a result.
Parasites in Dogs
In dogs, because they like to roam around outside, especially puppies who like to put all kinds of things in their mouths that they shouldn't, gastrointestinal parasites are very common. We're talking about things like roundworms, giardia, whipworms, which are found all over the soil and in the feces of other animals that dogs love to put in their mouths.
Another common issue in dogs is skin parasites like ticks and fleas. Playing outside and socializing with other dogs is great, but it's a perfect way for parasites to hop from one animal's skin to another. While not as common, heartworms spread by mosquitoes are certainly worrying.
Parasites in Cats
The risk of parasites in cats depends on whether your cat is indoor or outdoor. Indoor cats, since they're not interacting with many other animals, have limited exposure to parasite sources. However, outdoor cats that climb through brush and hunt birds and mice are susceptible to gastrointestinal parasites, just like dogs, and fleas. It's very common to see cats with fleas when they're roaming outside.
Testing for Parasites in Your Dog or Cat
There are two very common tests for parasites. In addition to the general checkup, which can reveal some signs, whenever your dog or cat comes in for a checkup, we always examine the skin for evidence of rashes, fleas, hair loss, scabs, and other signs of skin parasites. +It's very common to run a fecal test at a checkup, especially for young dogs, new dogs, or dogs with unusual stool. This test looks for worms and other gut parasites.
The last test we commonly run is a blood test, which covers two essential things. It checks for heartworm, as heartworms are entirely internal and focused around the heart, with larvae in the bloodstream, making them visible only through blood tests. The other aspect of the acuplex test is to look for evidence of tick disease, not for ticks themselves, but for the dangerous bacteria some ticks can carry. If your dog is bitten by ticks regularly and becomes infected with something like Lyme disease, their body will have responses that show up in the blood test.
Dog and Cat Parasite Treatment and Prevention
Thankfully, many parasites in this area are relatively easy to kill. Although they are technically animals, their systems are very different from those of dogs and cats. Many products are toxic to parasites but won't harm your dog or cat.
Depending on the species of parasite your dog has, whether fleas or roundworms, we determine the kind of parasiticide to administer, which may be a liquid, pill, shot, or topical drop. They all work by introducing something to your pet's body that's toxic to the parasite but not to your pet. Your pet will be fine, but as the chemical circulates through your pet's body, the parasite ingests it, dies, and is either broken down or expelled from the body, or in the case of ticks and fleas, simply falls off.
Most ways to get rid of active parasite infections also prevent them. During your regular checkup, it's important to inform your vet about the area you live in and where your pet likes to go. Based on that information, your veterinarian can determine which species to watch out for and which aren't a concern.
For example, if you have an indoor cat that never interacts with other cats or leaves your house, it's unlikely to get fleas. However, if you have a dog that loves running in the woods and you live in a wooded area, ticks might be a concern. Based on the species around, your vet will recommend certain products to prevent parasite infections.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (703) 273-2110, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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