Coccidia | Ear Mites | Fleas & Ticks | Giardia | Heartworms | Hookworms
Mange Mites | Round Worms | Tape Worms | Whip Worms

Coccidia
Coccidia (cok-SID-ee-ah) are single-celled parasites and are not visible to the naked eye. Your pet can become infected by eating infected soil or licking contaminated paws or fur. Once swallowed, the parasites damage the lining of the intestine and your pet cannot absorb nutrients from its food. Bloody, watery diarrhea may result, and the animal may become dehydrated because it loses more water in its stool than it can replace by drinking. Young pets are most often infected because their immune systems may not yet be strong enough to fight off the parasite. Coccidia can be very contagious among young puppies and kittens, so households with multiple pets should be especially careful to practice good hygiene and sanitation. A routine fecal test by your veterinarian will detect the presence of coccidia. Treatment with medications will prevent the parasite from multiplying and allow time for your pet's immune system to kill the parasites.

Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny infectious organisms resembling microscopic ticks. The mite can just barely be seen as a small white dot with the naked eye but usually must be detected by examination of a sample of ear wax under a microscope. Infection usually produces a characteristic dry black ear discharge commonly said to resemble coffee grounds. Because of the classical appearance of this discharge, it is tempting to diagnose infection based on the presence of such discharge alone. However this can lead to a misdiagnosis, as other diseases of the ear can produce a similar discharge. Therefore, it is important to obtain visual confirmation of the mite under the microscope.

Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance to your pet. They can be very dangerous to your pets' health, not to mention very annoying to us as pet owners.

Ticks carry several types of diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and Tularemia, all of which you can contract too. Fleas can also cause health problems in your pets such as skin allergies, internal parasites (tapeworms), and anemia. Fleas brought into your home either on your pet or you, can also cause infestations that can be hard to eliminate. And don't forget, fleas and ticks can bite you too! .

Several products exist to help prevent flea and tick infestation on your pet. Our veterinary hospital staff can discuss the most appropriate product for your pet.

Giardia
Giardia (gee-AR-dee-ah) is also a single-celled parasite that, if swallowed, damages the lining of the intestine and reduces the absorption of nutrients from the food your pet eats. While most Giardia infections do not cause illness, severe infections can lead to diarrhea. Giardia is harder to diagnose than other intestinal parasites, and several stool samples may have to be tested before it is found. If necessary, your veterinarian will recommend treatment with medications to eliminate the infection. Because it is highly contagious among animals, good hygiene and sanitation are important when there are multiple pets in the household.

Heartworms
Heartworms are transmitted by an infected mosquito. Heartworms are large worms that live in the hearts of dogs and cats. They are also found in other species, including ferrets, foxes, wolves, sea lions, and horses. Dogs are the common host for this parasite. This worm is also known as Dirofilaria Immitis. It is a long, spaghetti-like worm that can be anywhere from 6 to 10 inches in length (~17 - 27 cm).

Protecting your pet is as easy as giving a monthly heartworm preventative all year round. Several preventative products exist. Our veterinary hospital staff can discuss the most appropriate product for your pet.

If your pet is older than 6 months of age, we recommend testing them for the presence of heartworm disease before starting a preventative program.

For further information about heartworm disease, please visit www.heartwormsociety.org

Hookworms
Hookworms are a common intestinal parasite found in dogs, but they are less commonly found in cats. Your pet can become infected when larvae penetrate the animal's skin or the lining of the mouth. An infected female dog can pass the infection to her puppies through her milk, but this does not occur in cats.

Hookworms are dangerous parasites because they actually bite into the intestinal lining of an animal and suck blood. As with roundworms, puppies and kittens are at high risk of infection and developing severe diseases. Left untreated, hookworm infections can result in potentially life-threatening blood loss, weakness, and malnutrition. Like roundworms, hookworm infections are zoonotic, and infections usually occur by accidentally eating the larvae or by the larvae entering through the skin. In humans, hookworm infections cause health problems when the larvae penetrate the skin. The larvae produce severe itching and tunnel-like, red areas as they move through the skin and, if accidentally eaten, can cause intestinal problems. A routine fecal test by your veterinarian will detect the presence of hookworms.

Mange Mites
Mange is caused by another type of external parasite — the mite. Fortunately, mange is rare in the well-fed, well-kept cat.

In dogs, two types of mange are the most common: DEMODECTIC mange or "red mange," and SARCOPTIC mange or "scabies." They may be present at any time of the year.

Dogs suffering from demodectic mange usually do not scratch. This mange is most common in young short-haired animals and is marked in the early stages by small areas of hairlessness, accompanied by a red, irritated appearance. In sarcoptic mange, a severe itching is usually observed, with consequent skin irritation and loss of hair. This type of mange is contagious to people as well as to other dogs and therefore should be checked as soon as possible.

It should be remembered that mange is more serious than a simple skin irritation or abrasion or a source of discomfort to your dog — though it certainly is that. Both of these manges are serious skin diseases that can lead to complications such as severe skin infections. Veterinarians usually treat mange by clipping, medicated baths or sprays, as well as oral medication or injections.

Roundworms
Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite in dogs and cats in the world. Animals with roundworms pass the infection to other animals when the worm eggs develop into larvae and are present in the animal's feces (droppings). Your pet can pick up the infection by eating infected soil, licking contaminated fur or paws, or by drinking contaminated water. Dogs can also become infected with roundworms by swallowing roundworm eggs passed from an infected dog.

Infected female dogs may pass the infection to their puppies before birth or afterwards when they are nursing. Infected female cats cannot infect their kittens before birth, but can pass on the infection through their milk when kittens are nursing. A routine fecal test by your veterinarian will detect the presence of roundworms.

Tapeworms
Tapeworms got their name because they are thin and flat, like strips of tape. Unlike the smooth-bodied roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, tapeworms' bodies are actually made up of joined segments. Dogs and cats become infected with tapeworms when they eat infected fleas or lice. They can also get certain types of tapeworms by eating infected rodents.

Tapeworms live in the small intestine and steal the nutrients from the food your dog or cat eats. An infection is usually diagnosed when the eggs sacs are seen under the pet's tail or on its stool. These sacs look like flattened grains of rice. While there are prescription dewormers available that are effective against tapeworms, keeping your pet free of fleas is the best preventative. Rarely are tapeworms a risk to people.

Whipworms
Whipworms can cause diarrhea, anemia, weight loss, and dehydration. Whipworms can also be extremely difficult to detect. Dogs become infected with whipworms by swallowing whipworm eggs passed from an infected dog. A routine fecal test by your veterinarian will detect the presence of whipworms.


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