Parasites are more than a nuisance — they can affect your pet's comfort and health, and some can even be passed to people. Here is what to watch for, and how we recommend protecting your pet.
Heartworm
Heartworm is a parasite that is carried and transferred by mosquitoes, and is therefore a threat to our pets in areas where there are mosquitoes. This is a parasite that lives in the bloodstream of animals and matures in the heart as an adult worm. These parasites mainly affect dogs, but have also rarely been found in cats.
The cycle begins when a mosquito bites a heartworm infected dog and picks up microfilaria (immature heartworms) which circulate in an infected dog's blood stream. The infected mosquito then bites an unprotected dog, passing on the microfilaria. Once inside the heart, the microfilaria matures into adult worms which can grow up to 35 cm long, thus causing significant damage to the heart and lungs. An affected animal may develop coughing, breathing problems and weight loss.
If left untreated, heartworm can cause severe heart damage and can be fatal. It is therefore important to protect your dog by following a preventive protocol during the months when mosquitoes are present. Please ask us for advice about protecting your pet from this disease.
Roundworm & Hookworm
The most common type of intestinal worms are roundworms and hookworms. They live and grow inside the intestine of your pet, developing from egg into larvae (immature worms), then into adults. Dogs and cats of any age may contract intestinal parasites, but are most vulnerable when they are very young and when they catch and consume rodents.
Roundworms are often transmitted from mother to puppy (or kitten) before birth, or shortly thereafter while nursing. The eggs may also be ingested from feces or in their surroundings (contaminated soil, sand, plant life or other objects). Hookworms are transmitted similarly, or the larvae can burrow through the skin when in contact with the environment.
Most dogs and cats do not always show signs of infection of these worms, although some possible signs might be diarrhea and/or pot belly. They may only show evidence of these parasites in their feces on a microscopic level.
Hookworms and roundworms are both considered zoonotic diseases, meaning that they can be passed from our pets to us. It is therefore very important to make sure that at risk pets are dewormed regularly.
These intestinal parasites can be diagnosed by a microscopic evaluation of the feces — this is why we recommend that you bring a fresh fecal sample with you for your pet's annual physical examination.
Tapeworm
The tapeworm parasite infects our pets through the consumption of either rodents or fleas. When our pets groom themselves and accidentally ingest fleas they can become infected with the parasite, or they can become infected by hunting and then ingesting their prey.
The most common sign of this parasite is the appearance of segments (which look like grains of rice) on the feces, or occasionally on the coat of the hind quarters of our pets.
The prevention of fleas and rodent hunting will help prevent infection with this parasite. Treatment for this parasite is available.
Fleas
Adult fleas on pets comprise approximately 5% of the flea population, leaving 95% as the immature stages that can live and develop in the environment of your home. Fleas are wingless insects with a flat, hard body and 3 pairs of legs. The 3rd pair of legs are longer, thus enabling it to jump great distances. Fleas survive on the blood meals obtained from biting our pets. Signs that your pet may be infected with fleas include:
- itching and chewing
- fleas visible in the coat
- seeing the flea "dirt" on your pet's skin
Pets become infected through exposure to fleas in the environment or other animals carrying adult fleas. The adult flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day! This means that an infestation can develop very quickly! Treatment of flea infestations is important not only for the comfort of your pet, but also because fleas can bite humans. Having fleas can also contribute to intestinal parasitism. When your pet grooms itself and accidentally ingests fleas, the flea can infect the pet with tapeworms. This parasite, when passed in the feces, has the appearance of grains of rice. These can also appear on the hair around the anus.
Ticks
Ticks carry many diseases and are usually found in wooded or marshy areas. When walking through these areas your pet brushes against the brush or grass, and the tick transfers onto your pet. The tick then burrows its head under the skin to take a blood meal. They are most likely found on areas of our pets that are hard to groom such as head, neck and legs and especially between the toes.
Did you know that ticks carry diseases that affect both pets and people? Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Tularemia, and Babesia. Lyme Disease is the most concerning disease carried by ticks in this part of Ontario. Historically, the ticks carrying this disease were restricted to certain areas of the province, most notably Long Point, but it has become more widespread in recent years.
There are a number of products available now that can prevent tick infestations on dogs, therefore protecting them from developing a tick-borne disease. We can help you choose which product is best for your pet. Depending on where you live and your pet's risk factors, one of the veterinarians can discuss with you additional means of protection that are available, like a vaccination for Lyme disease. Although these preventative measures are effective, it is important to note that none provide 100% protection.
Since there is no treatment that guarantees 100% against disease transmission, it is especially important for you to inspect yourself and your pet for ticks on a daily basis. Know what ticks look like, study up on the life cycles of ticks, and give your pet a head-to-tail inspection. Your pet will love the extra attention and you might find a tick before it has a chance to spread disease.
If you are concerned about your pets' risk or exposure to ticks, screening tests are a fast and easy way to detect tick-borne diseases. We already include screening for 4 different tick-borne diseases in our annual test for heartworm disease, and this is the perfect time of year to have dogs tested. Prevention products usually start on or before June 1st, depending on the risk of exposure. Have you been in to pick up a product for your pets this season?
Ear Mites
These mites primarily live within the external canal of the ear of our pets. The ear mite causes inflammation and severe itching and redness in the ears. Commonly, large volumes of dark crusted debris are found in the ear canal if the mites are present. Diagnosis of these mites is done microscopically using a swab taken from the affected ear. These mites are highly contagious, and are transferred between pets through direct contact. They can live in our pets and their environment for long periods of time. Mites are often seen in kittens and puppies due to their close contact. There are several products available to treat and prevent these mites.