Internal Parasites

* ...Once per year is normal.

* ...If your pet has problems with worms you may want to have them checked every six months.

Zoonotic Disease is the medical term for any disease that people can "catch" from animals.

More then 150 disease are transmissible to people (about 1/3 of all known diseases). Preventing them is important. The main prevention Strategy is nothing more than good sanitation.

Some of the most common Zoonotic diseases include:

* Roundworms

*Hookworms

*Toxoplasmosis

*Cat Scratch Fever

*Ringworm

*Scabies

*Tuberculosis

*Salmonella

The National Center for Disease Control recommends that veterinarians advise their clients of the potential risk and take measures to prevent the problem.

Human Worm Infection Recommendations:

* All pets should have an internal parasite test at least once / year, more frequently if worms are seen at home.

*Dogs should be given once a month heartworm preventive, which also helps control intestinal parasites.

*Pregnant women should not clean out the cat's litter box or do any gardening (working with the hands in the soil) without wearing gloves.

DON'T PANIC:  The incidence of pet to human worm transmission is very low.

CAUTION and GOOD SANITATION are "the keys."

Ascarids: ("Roundworms")

~Round; white; 2-4 inches long: may curl up when seen; resemble "spaghetti"

~May be vomited up from stomach; or coughed up from the lungs.

~Are most commonly found in young puppies.

~May cause intestinal blockage when found in large numbers.

Hookworms:

~Very thin, almost transparent; 1/4 - 1/2 inch long.

~Normally not visible to the naked eye.

~Hook on to the intestine and suck blood, which causes anemia.

~The mother may infect puppies through the milk when nursing,

~May be ingested orally or may actually penetrate the skin (usually through feet).

~Causes bloody diarreha and death when severe.

~Most harmful of all internal parasites!

Whipworms:

~Inhabit the lower part of the intestins (colon).

~Causes chronic diarrhea, sometimes containing blood.

~Normally not visible to the naked eye.

~Eggs are ingested off the ground.

Tapeworms:

~ Short, flat segments (look similar to "rice" or "cucumber seeds")

~Causes a poor appearance and dry skin.

~Often seen on the hair around the rectum.

~Cannot be diagnosed by microscopic exam like other parasites, unless a segment just happens to be present - segments ar not passed every day.

~Spread by fleas, rabbits, birds and other roadents - not by dogs and cats.

Internal Parasite Prevention:

~Fecal examination of your pet's stool should be done every 6 months.

~Use specific dewormers for the type parasite present, as determined by microscopic fecal examination. Over-the-counter deworming medications are usually not effective against most internal parasites that cause the real problems!

~Remove feces from your lawn, street, or kennel daily.

~Exercise your pets in grassy areas not frequented by other animals.

~Prevent your pet from eating roadents, such as mice, rats, and rabbits.

~Prevent your pet from eating earthworms, which  spread "roundworms".

~Control fleas!

~Deworm pregnant pets before breeding, and again before whelping to help prevent infecting newborn pets.