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Parasite Control
Pets and Parasites
Parasite control is an important way to safeguard not only your pet’s health, but also that of you and your children. We offer oral and topical parasite control. Parasite control includes fleas, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms and heartworms. Not all products cover all of the listed parasites. We can discuss with you further about the best option for you and your family. It is recommended to have year-round flea control as Oregon is perfect environment for them to live. Several of our flea products include preventatives for other parasites. Check out our Canine or Feline Parasite pages for the list and prices.
It is also recommended to have your pets regularly de-wormed with a general dewormer to ensure complete removal of intestinal parasites as they may become re-exposed to parasite. Not all parasites are visible to the naked eye, therefore having a stool sample analyzed on a regular basis to ensure your pet is clear of parasites.
Parasite control is an important way to safeguard not only your pet’s health, but also that of you and your children. We offer oral and topical parasite control. Parasite control includes fleas, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms and heartworms. Not all products cover all of the listed parasites. We can discuss with you further about the best option for you and your family. It is recommended to have year-round flea control as Oregon is perfect environment for them to live. Several of our flea products include preventatives for other parasites. Check out our Canine or Feline Parasite pages for the list and prices.
It is also recommended to have your pets regularly de-wormed with a general dewormer to ensure complete removal of intestinal parasites as they may become re-exposed to parasite. Not all parasites are visible to the naked eye, therefore having a stool sample analyzed on a regular basis to ensure your pet is clear of parasites.
Common Parasites:
Roundworms: a common parasite found in the intestines of dogs and cats that is shed in their stool. It can cause an eye disease that can lead to blindness or swelling of the body’s organs or central nervous system.
Tapeworms: Your pet get contract tapeworms from eating fleas that can harbor the tapeworm in its larval stage or from eating an infected rodent. Segments of the tapeworm resemble small grains of white rice and are often shed in the feces or found clinging to the hair around the rectum.
Hookworms & Whipworms: Hookworms can be found attached to your pets intestinal lining, and can cause dark feces or bloody diarrhea. Whipworms, found in the large intestine, can cause diarrhea also.
Heartworm: is a life threatening infection of the heart caused by the adult stage of the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. Heartworm is present in Oregon, even in the urban areas. Mosquitoes are the carriers of heartworm disease, so even pets that live indoors or have limited access to the outdoors should be on a heartworm preventative.
Roundworms: a common parasite found in the intestines of dogs and cats that is shed in their stool. It can cause an eye disease that can lead to blindness or swelling of the body’s organs or central nervous system.
Tapeworms: Your pet get contract tapeworms from eating fleas that can harbor the tapeworm in its larval stage or from eating an infected rodent. Segments of the tapeworm resemble small grains of white rice and are often shed in the feces or found clinging to the hair around the rectum.
Hookworms & Whipworms: Hookworms can be found attached to your pets intestinal lining, and can cause dark feces or bloody diarrhea. Whipworms, found in the large intestine, can cause diarrhea also.
Heartworm: is a life threatening infection of the heart caused by the adult stage of the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. Heartworm is present in Oregon, even in the urban areas. Mosquitoes are the carriers of heartworm disease, so even pets that live indoors or have limited access to the outdoors should be on a heartworm preventative.
What Every Pet Owner Should Know About Roundworms & Hookworms
Department of Health & Human Services USA
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Worms that infect pets . . . can infect people, too.
What are roundworms and hookworms?
You may have already heard that worms often infect puppies and kittens as well as older pets. The most common types of these parasitic worms are roundworms and hookworms. They are both intestinal parasites. They live and grow inside the intestine of your pet. Roundworms and hookworms develop from eggs into larvae (immature worms). The larvae later mature into adult worms.
Most pets show no sign of infection. However, some do. Signs may include vomiting, loss of appetite, or severe weight loss. Heavy infections in young puppies and kittens may be fatal.
(The term “roundworms” refers here to worms known as ascarids; it is sometimes used to include both ascarids and hookworms.)
How do pets get worms?
Dogs and cats of any age may get roundworms and hookworms, but they are most vulnerable when they are very young. In fact, it is not unusual for puppies of only 2-3 weeks of age to harbor a significant number of worms. That’s because these worms are often passed from mother to her puppies before birth. Sometimes they are passed shortly after birth, through her milk.
Can roundworms and hookworms infect people?
Yes. These infections, like other acquired from animals, are called zoonotic (zoe-o-NOT-ick) infections or zoonoses (zoe-o-NO-sees). You owe it to yourself and your family to find out about these zoonotic infections. Learn how to prevent them.
How do these worms infect people?
Dogs and cats infected with these worms contaminate their surroundings by passing eggs or larvae in their feces (waste). Because pets will pass feces anywhere, they may contaminate a large area quickly. These eggs and larvae are resilient and can survive in areas such as parks, playgrounds, and yards. Even inside homes.
People get roundworm and hookworm infections through direct contact with infected feces. This usually happens by chance ingestion of contaminated soil, sand, or plant life. Hookworm larvae penetrate the skin. Children are more vulnerable to infection than adults, perhaps because they play on the ground with dirt that may be contaminated. Maybe it’s because kids are more likely to put dirty objects into their mouths. Some children pass through a stage in which they eat dirt (pica). Thus, they are more prone to get these infections.
How do roundworms harm people?
Roundworms enter the body when ingested as eggs that soon hatch into larvae. These larvae travel through the liver, lungs, and other organs. In most cases, these “wandering worms” cause no symptoms or apparent damage. However, in some cases they produce a condition known as visceral larva migrans. The larvae may cause damage to tissue and sometimes affect the nerves or even lodge in the eye. In some cases, they may cause permanent nerve or eye damage, even blindness.
How do hookworms harm people?
Hookworm larvae typically move about within the skin, causing inflammation in the affected skin. This is called cutaneous (skin) larva migrans. One type of hookworms can penetrate into deeper tissue and cause more serious damage to the intestine and other organs.
How can I protect my pets-and my family-and myself-against worm infections?
Your veterinarian can recommend treatments to eliminate and help prevent these worm infections. Since these products are available in many forms, you and your vet can choose which one works best for your dog or cat. Ask for the product that is most effective against the worms to which pets in your area are likely to be exposed.
Take steps to prevent roundworm and hookworm infection
· Have your puppies and kittens de-wormed by your vet at an early age.
· Start or keep your pets on a preventative drug program that treats and controls these worms.
· Learn to recognize and avoid possibly contaminated soil, sand, plants, and other objects. Teach children to do the same.
· Obey leash laws.
· Keep play areas, lawns, and gardens around your home free of animal waste.
. Bag and dispose of pet feces.
. Cover sandboxes when not in use.
For more CDC information about safe and healthy pet ownership see http:// www.cdc.gov/healthyepts
This information was produced through an educational grant from Merial.
Department of Health & Human Services USA
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Worms that infect pets . . . can infect people, too.
What are roundworms and hookworms?
You may have already heard that worms often infect puppies and kittens as well as older pets. The most common types of these parasitic worms are roundworms and hookworms. They are both intestinal parasites. They live and grow inside the intestine of your pet. Roundworms and hookworms develop from eggs into larvae (immature worms). The larvae later mature into adult worms.
Most pets show no sign of infection. However, some do. Signs may include vomiting, loss of appetite, or severe weight loss. Heavy infections in young puppies and kittens may be fatal.
(The term “roundworms” refers here to worms known as ascarids; it is sometimes used to include both ascarids and hookworms.)
How do pets get worms?
Dogs and cats of any age may get roundworms and hookworms, but they are most vulnerable when they are very young. In fact, it is not unusual for puppies of only 2-3 weeks of age to harbor a significant number of worms. That’s because these worms are often passed from mother to her puppies before birth. Sometimes they are passed shortly after birth, through her milk.
Can roundworms and hookworms infect people?
Yes. These infections, like other acquired from animals, are called zoonotic (zoe-o-NOT-ick) infections or zoonoses (zoe-o-NO-sees). You owe it to yourself and your family to find out about these zoonotic infections. Learn how to prevent them.
How do these worms infect people?
Dogs and cats infected with these worms contaminate their surroundings by passing eggs or larvae in their feces (waste). Because pets will pass feces anywhere, they may contaminate a large area quickly. These eggs and larvae are resilient and can survive in areas such as parks, playgrounds, and yards. Even inside homes.
People get roundworm and hookworm infections through direct contact with infected feces. This usually happens by chance ingestion of contaminated soil, sand, or plant life. Hookworm larvae penetrate the skin. Children are more vulnerable to infection than adults, perhaps because they play on the ground with dirt that may be contaminated. Maybe it’s because kids are more likely to put dirty objects into their mouths. Some children pass through a stage in which they eat dirt (pica). Thus, they are more prone to get these infections.
How do roundworms harm people?
Roundworms enter the body when ingested as eggs that soon hatch into larvae. These larvae travel through the liver, lungs, and other organs. In most cases, these “wandering worms” cause no symptoms or apparent damage. However, in some cases they produce a condition known as visceral larva migrans. The larvae may cause damage to tissue and sometimes affect the nerves or even lodge in the eye. In some cases, they may cause permanent nerve or eye damage, even blindness.
How do hookworms harm people?
Hookworm larvae typically move about within the skin, causing inflammation in the affected skin. This is called cutaneous (skin) larva migrans. One type of hookworms can penetrate into deeper tissue and cause more serious damage to the intestine and other organs.
How can I protect my pets-and my family-and myself-against worm infections?
Your veterinarian can recommend treatments to eliminate and help prevent these worm infections. Since these products are available in many forms, you and your vet can choose which one works best for your dog or cat. Ask for the product that is most effective against the worms to which pets in your area are likely to be exposed.
Take steps to prevent roundworm and hookworm infection
· Have your puppies and kittens de-wormed by your vet at an early age.
· Start or keep your pets on a preventative drug program that treats and controls these worms.
· Learn to recognize and avoid possibly contaminated soil, sand, plants, and other objects. Teach children to do the same.
· Obey leash laws.
· Keep play areas, lawns, and gardens around your home free of animal waste.
. Bag and dispose of pet feces.
. Cover sandboxes when not in use.
For more CDC information about safe and healthy pet ownership see http:// www.cdc.gov/healthyepts
This information was produced through an educational grant from Merial.