Parasites
Heartworm
The prevalence in Utah County is currently low. However, it is growing. The primary concern is in dogs, but cats can also be affected. Heartworm is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes from one animal to another. Clinical signs only develop when numerous worms are involved. The majority of infected individuals don’t exhibit clinical signs. When signs do develop they are usually consistent with heart disease: coughing, exercise intolerance, lethargy. Your pet can be tested for heartworm with a simple blood test. Then your pet can start on a medication given once a month throughout the year.
Roundworms
These parasites are very common, especially in puppies and kittens. They are less common in adult animals. Clinical signs include a pot-bellied appearance, dull hair coat, vomiting, diarrhea and coughing. Roundworm infestation can be fatal to your pet. Our clinic has several medications to help deworm your pet.
Tapeworm
This parasite is very common in adult dogs and cats, but especially cats and dogs that catch mice. There are other species of tapeworm that can be transmitted by ingesting fleas or raw meat. Owners can look for small tapeworm segments in the stool or stuck to the perineum of pets. Fecal test cannot detect this parasite; owners need to watch for the segments.
Pinworms
Dogs and cats do not get pinworms. Physicians usually tell pet owners that their children get pinworms from the family cat. This is not true! If the family cat has any part in the process, it is as an innocent carrier of the eggs of the pinworm on its fur after being petted by a child who has pinworm eggs on his/her hand.
Fleas
Fleas are uncommon in Utah because it is too dry for the flea to complete its life cycle. We do see a few cases a year. Owners who are experiencing problems keep pets in the house where the humidity is higher. Pets may not show any signs or may have severely itchy skin if they are allergic to the flea saliva.
Ticks
Most tick products will kill ticks. We don’t see a lot of problems with ticks, and we rarely (if ever) see the disease that ticks can sometimes transmit. Most people call us to ask how to remove ticks. To remove a tick, use tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the head as possible, and gently and slowly pull the tick out. If the “nose” of the tick is still in the pet, it will fester like a sliver and be expelled by the pet’s body. Make sure your wash your hands after.
Lice
Children do not get lice from animals. Children get lice from other children. Just like the pinworm, the pet may carry the eggs on the fur if petted by a person with the eggs on their hands.
Giardia
Giardia is very common in this area and is an important cause in diarrhea in dogs and cats. Diarrhea is usually acute onset. Pets get exposed from other pets or by drinking contaminated water.
Cocccidia
This is a common cause of diarrhea, even bloody diarrhea, in puppies and kittens. Coccidia is common in puppies which have been shipped around the country or raised in poor, dirty conditions. Older pets can become infected; infection is usually related to stress or filthy conditions. Cleaning the environment the pet is in will help reduce the risk of infection.
Hookworms
Uncommon in this area, but we do see a few cases per year. This parasite sucks blood, so in addition to diarrhea, poor hair coat and growth, the pet can suffer from blood loss, iron deficiency anemia and tarry stool. Skin rashes can form where the larvae penetrate the skin.
Whipworm
Whipworms are intestinal parasites which are about 1/4 inch (6 mm) long. They live in the cecum and colon of dogs and cats where they cause severe irritation to the lining of those organs. This results in watery, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and general debilitation. They are one of the most pathogenic worms found in dogs and cats.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by infection with the organism called Toxoplasma gondii. This is a microscopic single-cell organism related to coccidia. Virtually all warm-blooded animals, including people, can be infected with this organism. It is an extremely well adapted parasite and rarely causes significant disease to the individuals it infects.
Following a few sensible environmental and meat hygiene measures can greatly reduce the risk of human infection:
- Cook all meat thoroughly - at least 160 -180°F (70 –82°C) throughout.
- Wash hands, utensils and surfaces carefully after handling raw meat.
- Wash all vegetables carefully.
- Wear gloves when gardening in soil potentially contaminated by cat feces.
- Empty cat litter trays daily, dispose of litter carefully, and disinfect with boiling water. If this is done every day, even if a cat is excreting oocysts, they will not have become infectious by the time the litter is changed. It takes more than twenty-four hours from when they are passed in the feces for the oocysts to develop into the infective stage.
- Discourage pet cats from hunting, and avoid feeding them raw or undercooked meat.
- Cover any children's sand boxes to prevent cats using them as a litterbox.
Demodex
This parasite lives in the hair follicles of the dog. Normal dogs can have the parasite with without showing any clinical signs. Those with an active infection usually have all forms of the life cycle present. Puppies are exposed to the mite immediately after birth. There are two types of demodecosis possible: localized and generalized.
Localized: Usually the owner will notice one to several small, scaly, red areas of hair loss, usually is on the face and forelegs. This course is benign and most cases can resolve on their own.
Generalized: A concurrent skin infection is almost always present. It is considered to be an inheritable condition related to a specific part of the immune system.
Ear Mites
This mite does not burrow, but rather lives on the skin and eats dead cells and tissue fluid from the host. The life cycle lasts about 3 weeks. The mite lives primarily in the ear canal, but can be found on the fur around the ears and at the base of the tail. The mites are passed from one pet to another, usually through direct contact as the mite does not survive well off the host, even for short period s of time.
Scabies
This is another mite that inhibits the skin of dogs and cats. This parasite is transferable to humans and will often cause a rash, small bumps and pruritis. All pets in the house should be treated concurrently, even if they exhibit no clinical signs.
