Internal Parasites

How can pets get hookworm?

Transmitted through mom while still in her uterus, through milk, ingesting feces or contaminated things, through skin, and eating other animals

Is hookworm contagious to people and how do we get it?

Yes, can be transmitted through the skin, or by ingesting egg.

What do we use to treat hookworms?

Pyrantel pamoate (can also use panacur, drontal), repeat in 14 days.

Treat puppies at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age.

How do we prevent the pet and person from getting it again (or ever)?

Monthly Heartgard or Interceptor Plus/Sentinel Spectrum

Pick up stools daily

Treat area with yard or kennel sprays, borax, or 10% bleach

What do hookworms look like?

Worms- dull white to reddish, 5 mm to 25 mm

Eggs- oval, thin walled, 2 or more overlapping spheres light brown in color, do not fill up center completely

How often must we pick up stools at a min. for hookworms?

Daily, as eggs hatch and are infective within 24 hours, and as early as 9 in high temp/humidity

How can pets get roundworms?

Transmitted while still in mom, through milk, ingesting feces or contaminated things, eating other animals

Are roundworms contagious to people and how do we get it?

Ingestion of egg

What do we use to treat roundworms?

Pyrantel pamoate (repeat 14 days)

Panacur or drontal

Recheck fecal 1 mo after tx

What do roundworms look like?

Worms- round cream colored between 1 and 8 inches

Eggs- round to oval, larger than hookworms, thick egg wall with brown grainy contents

How often should we pick up stools at a min. (roundworms)?

Every other day, as eggs infective at 3 days

How can pets get whipworms?

Transmitted by ingestion of things contaminated by feces or feces themselves (intermittent egg layers, so can get negative fecals even when infected)

Are whipworms contagious to people?

No

What do we use to treat whipworms?

Panacur once a day for 3 days, repeat in 3 weeks and then 3 months (Drontal plus)

If they’re on interceptor/sentinel they can skin 3 mo tx

Recheck in 3-4 mo

How do we prevent pets from getting whipworms?

Monthly Sentinel Spectrum, pick up stools min. every 2 wks or before it rains/snows (3 wks to become infective)

What do whipworms look like?

Worms- ¼ inch, thin on 1 and fat on the other end

Eggs- football shaped

At a min., how often should we pick up feces for whipworms?

Every 2 weeks, or before rains/snows

How do we prevent the pet or person from getting roundworms?

Monthly heartgard or interceptor/sentinel

Pick up stools every other day

Eggs are hardy, so you need to burn the area, or treat with hot lye or steam, keep yard free of debris and expose to sunlight

Pesticides and yard sprays do not work

Cover sandboxes to keep cats out

How can the pet get tapeworms?

Transmitted through ingestion of flea or infected mammal (rodent, rabbit)

Is the parasite contagious to people and how do we get it?

Yes, by ingesting the flea or raw infected animal

What do we use to treat tapeworms?

Droncit or drontal plus

Panacur will only get the rabbit tapeworm, not flea

How do we prevent the pet from getting tapeworms?

Flea control, do not feed raw meat

What do tapeworms look like?

Worm- dipylidium: can get up to 18 inches long; taenia: adults can get to 6 to 10 ft

Eggs- round, thick walled with spicules in center, 1/3 size of hookworm egg

How often at a min. should we pick up stools for tapeworms?

Not transmitted through feces, but ideally still everyday.

How can pets get coccidia?

Transmitted fecal-oral, or paratenic hosts (host that can support life of parasite but not further development; rodents, uncooked meat of herbivores)

Is coccidia contagious to people?

No, and not across species

What do we use to treat coccidia?

Albon kills coccidia

Coccidistats do not kill but keep protozoa from developing

Meds should not be used until dehydration is corrected

How do we prevent the pet from getting coccidia?

Clean feces immediately as eggs become infective w/in 12-24 hrs, disinfect areas with 1% bleach or 2-5% lysol, dry area out as they prefer moist cool environments

What does coccidia look like?

Eggs- ¼ to ½ size of hookworm egg, thin walled, can be sporulated or un

How often should we pick up feces at a min for coccidia?

Immediately

How can a pet get toxoplasmosis?

Transmitted fecal-oral, pre-natal, paratenic host (raw milk, uncooked meat), blood/organ transfusions

Is toxoplasmosis contagious to people and how do we get it?

Yes, handling cat feces, consuming raw meat, contaminated water or food

What do we use to treat toxoplasmosis?

Clindamycin

How do we prevent pet and people from getting toxoplasmosis?

Clean up feces twice a day, cook meat well, wash hands after gardening or cleaning litter box

What does toxoplasmosis look like?

Thin walled cells, granular material that fills center or 2 spores, ½ size of coccidia

How often at a min. do we have to pick up feces for toxoplasmosis?

Twice a day

How can pets get giardia?

Transmitted by fecal-oral, and through water

Is giardia contagious to people and how do we get it?

Yes, can be transmitted through feces or contaminated water

What do we use to treat giardia?

Metronidazole

How do we prevent pets or people from getting giardia?

Chlorination of water, immediate removal of feces, disinfect, wash hands

What does giardia look like?

Flagellated, motile on fecal smears unless in cyst form, monkey face

How often at a min. do we pick up feces for giardia?

Immediately as infection is immediate when passed through feces