Parasites
A parasite is an organism that lives off of another organism, often doing harm to the host. In addition to heartworm, dogs and cats need preventive deworming to ward off parasites that live off of them and cause malnutrition, disease, and discomfort.Tapeworms
Tapeworms attaches to the intestine of dogs and cats with little hooks that surround their
mouths. They are made up of segments that can total up to 8 inches long. Sometimes a segment
is passed into the feces. This annoys the pet and owners will see their animals try to
relieve the irritation by scooting along the floor. A dog or cat occasionally will vomit up a
tapeworm. Tapeworms are part of the lifecycle of fleas and can be kept under control as part
of a flea-control program.
Heartworm
Heartworm is a parasite that uses dogs as a host. When they are immature, the worms (microfilariae) are small and circulate in the blood. Adult worms can grow to more than 12 inches long and live in the heart. An untreated infection leads to congestive heart failure and eventually death.
You can read more about heartworm here
Roundworms
Dogs and cats are susceptible to roundworms, and puppies and kittens are often born with them. These 2-6 inch long worms look like spaghetti. Although adult animals are usually infected, the worms are often dormant. Mother dogs and cats will pass the larvae on to their offspring, though, through the placenta or through their milk. Infected animals often have a pot belly and may have diarrhea and vomit. Older animals may look dull and sickly if they have a large infestation.
If you see a worm, we still may want to run a fecal test. It is not uncommon that our pets
have more than one type of parasite, and it is of limited help to offer medication to treat
the one but to ignore the other!
Fleas
Fleas are probably the most visible and annoying parasite, but new methods of control have drastically reduced flea populations in many households. Let us tell you about Frontline™, a prescription treatment that disrupt the flea lifecycle.
Phone: (510) 841 - 4412 Fax: (510) 841 - 3019 email: staff AT uvhberkeley DOT com
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