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Intestinal Parasites in Pets
An Overview of Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are very common in pets, especially puppies and kittens. Even adult dogs and cats can pick up intestinal parasites from their environment, which isn’t surprising when you think about how much of their time is spent with noses on the ground. If you get a call from your veterinarian with the news that your pet tested positive for an intestinal parasite, don’t worry - most intestinal parasites are quite simple to treat.
Testing
Checking a stool sample for intestinal parasites is part of a routine wellness exam. This way, we can catch the parasite before it starts to cause problems. Young animals or those with diarrhea generally have stool samples checked more frequently. The testing is done by mixing the stool with a solution that allows the tiny parasite eggs to float to the top and stick to a slide to look at under the microscope. Most veterinarians only call with positive results, so if you don’t hear from your clinic, that generally means your pet is free of parasites.
Some parasites, like tapeworms, don’t show up on the typical routine stool sample testing but can be diagnosed by finding proglottids (segments of the tapeworm) on the stool itself. People often compare proglottids to grains of rice, which makes identification easy.
Common kinds of parasites
There are several different categories of parasites. Some of the most common parasites fall under the category of nematode, which includes roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Roundworms are what we generally think of when a pet has “worms” - stringy, spaghetti-looking parasites. Hookworms and whipworms are not typically seen without a microscope. Tapeworms are caused by eating an infected flea or hunting and eating other animals. Lastly, giardiasis and coccidiosis are common diarrheal illnesses, both caused by single-celled organisms called protozoa. No part of the protozoan life cycle can be seen with the naked eye.
Symptoms of parasite infection
The majority of intestinal parasites are found before they cause an issue for our pets. In young animals or those with a large number of parasites the signs can be much more dramatic. In mild cases, we can see abdominal bloating or cramping, diarrhea with or without blood, or vomiting. In more affected animals there can be a general failure to thrive, a dull coat, and an inability to gain weight. Significant dehydration can result from severe diarrhea or vomiting. Some intestinal parasites consume the blood of their hosts causing a low red blood cell count (anemia). If severe enough, dehydration or anemia may require intensive treatment and can be fatal.
Treatment
Many puppies and kittens are treated prophylactically for intestinal parasites even if their stool sample does not show evidence of them. In animals that test positive for a parasite, the type of intestinal parasite will dictate the type and duration of treatment. Some parasites can be treated with a one-time dose of deworming medication, but others require a prolonged course over the course of months. It is often recommended to recheck a stool sample after finishing a course of deworming medication - follow the advice of your veterinarian.
Certain kinds of intestinal parasites can exist in the environment for a long time, so cleaning up the backyard and washing your pet’s toys and bedding can be helpful. Often all the pets in the house will need to be treated even if only one tests positive to prevent the parasite from spreading back and forth.
Prevention
Most veterinarians recommend routine intestinal parasite screening 1-2 times per year. If your dog or cat is having diarrhea, it may be recommended to drop off a stool sample to see if parasites are the culprit. Most intestinal parasites are transferred via the fecal-oral route, so keeping your yard clean and avoiding areas with lots of stool contamination like dog parks can be helpful. Many types of heartworm prevention also include a medication that helps treat and prevent the more common intestinal parasites like hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.
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