Island Lake Veterinary Clinic Answers Your Questions About Parasites and How to Keep You and Your Pets Healthy

Q: Why should I control parasites for my pet year-round?

A: Due to the large number of internal and external parasites and the high risk of pet infection, controlling parasites year-round is the most reliable way to ensure the highest level of health for your pet and well-being of your family. Year-round prevention is the most effective way to control cat and dog parasites and the diseases they can carry.

Q: Why can’t I treat my pet for parasites just during the summer months?

A: Parasites can infect your pet any time of year. While external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, may be less of a problem during certain times of the year, internal parasites (worms) can be present year-round.

Q: What kind of internal parasites or worms can infect my cat or dog?

A: There are a number of intestinal worms that can infect dogs and cats, and they vary according to the species. In general, these include tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, and they are very prolific. In fact, one worm can produce more than 100,000 eggs per day, which are then passed in the pet’s feces and spread throughout the area the pet roams. Once in the environment, these eggs can remain infective and present a health risk for your pet and to humans for years.

Q: How does my dog or cat get intestinal worms (tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms)?

A: Dogs and cats are most commonly infected when they ingest (eat) intestinal worm eggs that have been passed through the feces of an infected dog or cat. Tapeworms can be transmitted to pets that ingest fleas or other intermediate hosts, such as small rodents, that carry tapeworm larvae. Some worm species can be transmitted to puppies and kittens through the mother’s placenta and milk.

Q: How can veterinarian determine if my pet has intestinal parasites (worms)?

A: Most intestinal parasites can be diagnosed through a physical examination and the microscopic analysis of your pet’s feces. Veterinarian can conduct the examination and fecal tests to determine if your pet has worms and then prescribe the appropriate treatment or preventive program.

Q: If my dog or cat has intestinal worms, how do these parasites infect humans?

A: Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite of pets and the most likely to be transmitted to humans. Humans can accidentally ingest infective worm eggs that have been passed through the pet’s feces and left in the environment. The eggs hatch in the human’s intestinal tract, and the immature worms travel to various tissues in the body, including the eyes and brain, causing serious infections.

Q: How can I reduce the risk of parasites infecting my family?

A: You can reduce the risk of parasitic infection by eliminating parasites from pets; restricting access to contaminated areas, such as sandboxes, pet “walk areas,” and other high-traffic areas, and practicing good personal hygiene. Disposing of pet feces on a regular basis can help remove potentially infective worm eggs before they become distributed in the environment and are picked up or ingested by pets or humans.