RASCAL Unit

RASCAL Unit

RASCAL

Affordable, quality veterinary care for your pet.

2007- The Dangers of Parasites.

he Rascal Unit began using Antech Diagnostics, a veterinary laboratory, in October of 2006 in order to provide diagnostic services to our patients. This included the ability to submit fecal samples as a means to detect intestinal parasites. To our surprise, last year’s positive fecal percentage was 35.7%!

As of May of 2007, the year-to-date’s positive fecal percentage is 31.7%. This means that approximately 1 out of 3 pets seen have a confirmed parasite infection. The actual numbers are probably higher since parasites are not always shedding eggs in the stool, so a fecal test can show negative results even if the pet is infected.

The most common parasites seen this year are Hookworms, Roundworms, Whipworms, and Giardia. Hookworms, Roundworms, and Giardia can be transmitted to humans and result in serious consequences, especially in children.

Hookworm eggs are shed in stool. They can enter the body by direct contact with the skin and result in a condition called cutaneous larval migrans. This occurs because the parasite can not migrate into the digestive tract as it would in a dog or cat an gets ‘stuck’ in the person’s skin.

Roundworm eggs are shed in the stool. Contamination is oral. Infection in humans can result in a disease called visceral larval migrans. It can cause damage to internal organs and even blindness. It can be misdiagnosed as an eye tumor and result in an unnecessary removal of the eye.

Giardia adults and eggs are shed in stool. Contamination is oral. Giardiasis results in severe vomiting and diarrhea and can result in dehydration.

(picture from Wikipedia is of a child with retinoblastoma
which mimics roundworm infection)

With oral contamination we may think “I am not in danger because I am not putting poopy hands in my mouth”. The reality is that these eggs are microscopic and can be found on the pet’s hair and anywhere the pet has been. When we pet a dog we can potentially get parasite eggs on our hands. Also, kissing a pet can allow eggs to enter the mouth.

There are three steps in protecting yourself and your pet from parasites:

1. Routine fecal examinations: Even if your pet is not in contact with other pets, it can be exposed to parasites living in the soil. Some parasite eggs may live on the ground for up to three years. Also, parasites may go into a dormant or hibernation-type state in the body which protects them from dewormers. When the pet’s immune system is impaired, as in pregnancy or illness, these parasites can develop into adults and be shed. So even a pet that truly never leaves the house can still carry worms. We recommend fecal examinations every 6 months or at least yearly.

2. Year-round heartworm prevention: Heartworm preventives such as Heartgard, Iverhart, and Interceptor can help prevent and eliminate some intestinal parasites in addition to preventing heartworm disease.

3. Yearly dosing of a broad spectrum dewormer: This will help eliminate adult parasites that may be living in the intestinal tract even if the pet is not showing signs of problems.

For more information on intestinal and other parasites, click here.