Miscellaneous Wellness Tips
Wellness Tips
INTESTINAL PARASITE INFORMATION
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).
- Was a problem in humans years ago when everyone went barefooted most of the time?
- Causes bloody diarrhea and death when severe.
- Most harmful of all internal parasites!
Whipworms:
- Inhabit the lower part of the intestine (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 are not passed every day.
- Spread by fleas, rabbits, birds, and other rodents— 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 rodents, 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.
