toxins, parasites, and diseases

antifreeze toxicity

Contains ethylene glycol that is sweet tasting, but one teaspoon of it can kill a small dog or cat. Metabolites cause rapid destruction of cells in renal tubules

rodenticides

inhibit production of clotting factors resulting in animals bleeding to death

pesticides

toxicity more likely in cats due to lower activity of liver enzymes

plant toxicity

more toxic in cats, easter lilies, tiger lilies, day lilies

chocolate poisoning

contains theobromine, the darker the chocolate the more theobromine it contains, dogs can’t metabolize this, 4 oz can kill a small dog

fleas

blood feeding insects with hind legs developed for jumpings

flea signs

itching, scratching, chewing, hair loss

flea treatment

monthly prevention or another for that interrupts the flea life cycle and usually paired with flea control in the animal’s environment

ticks

weakens host by sucking blood and transmitting disease such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

tick signs

visibility of the pest itself, appearance of feeding cavities where the pest has detached

tick treatment

amitraz collars or fipronil or permethrin (toxic to cats) spot treatment or sprays and usually paired with pest control in the animal’s environment

tapeworms

narrow, long, flat parasite that use an intermediate host. Most common form of infestation is caused by ingestion of fleas

tapeworm signs

intestinal cramping and diarrhea but often go unnoticed

tapeworm treatment

hard to treat due to reinfestation, treated with several rounds of dewormer such as epsiprantel

roundworms

large, round worms that live in the intestines of animals, are zoonotic with most common human infestations occurring in children, can cause blindness due to migration of worm into optic disk

roundworm signs

potbelly, dull hair, weight loss, coughing, vomiting of adult worms, diarrhea

roundworm treatment

dewormer containing pyrantel pamoate 2-3 weeks apart

hookworms

small parasite found in the intestines that feed by puncturing blood vessels that line the intestinal wall. the free-living larvae can live in the soil or grass for several weeks and can penetrate the intact skin of an animal or human

hookworm signs

diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, weakness, pale mucous membranes, anemia, death

hookworm treatment

several rounds of a dewormer containing pyrantel pamoate 2-3 weeks apart

whipworms

small parasite that only affects dogs that feed by burying their head into the wall of the small intestine

whipworm signs

diarrhea, weight loss, electrolyte abnormalities that may cause seizures

whipworm treatment

dewormer containing fenbendazole once a day for three days, dispose of any food or toys that may contain this parasite’s eggs

heartworms

parasite that as adults live in the right chamber of the heart where carbon dioxide is removed and oxygen is added to the blood. microfilaria (baby heartworms) are passed from host to host by mosquitoes

heartworm signs

deep chest cough, fatigue and lethargy, weight loss, labored breathing, abdominal distention or bloating

heartworm treatment

very risky and expensive. consists of a drug administered through IV for several days in a row to slowly kill the adults. there is no treatment for this parasite in cats

prevention using a monthly pill is better.

canine infectious diseases

distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, coronavirus, rabies

feline infectious diseases

peritonitis, rhinotracheitis, leukemia virus, rabies

zoonosis

rabies, salmonella, Lyme disease, giardia, cat scratch fever, ringworm, toxoplasmosis