Fecal Checks and Drontal Deworming:
We require all dogs that will be vacationing with us to have a stool sample checked (fecal float) or have had a Drontal brand deworming in the past year. This is for the safety of all dogs that stay with us, and there owners. Many intestinal parasites can live in the soil for years and will contaminate other dogs that come by. Besides infecting your dog, some intestinal parasites are contagious to people and children.
Different types of parasites and bacteria in dogs and cats…
Hookworms – They are only about 1/8" (3 mm) long and so small that it is very difficult to see them with the naked eye. Despite their small size, they ingest large amounts of blood from the tiny vessels in the intestinal wall. A large number of hookworms can cause anemia. This problem is most common in puppies, but can occur in adult dogs.
A dog may become infected when it swallows hookworm larvae. The larvae may also penetrate the skin and migrate to the intestine where they mature and complete its life cycle. If a pregnant dog has hookworms, the pregnancy may reactivate larvae. These larvae will enter the female's bloodstream and infect the puppies in the womb. Finally, puppies may be infected through the mother's milk. The most significant problems appear related to intestinal distress and anemia. Blood loss results from the parasites ingesting blood from intestinal capillaries. Pale gums, diarrhea, or weakness are common signs of anemia. Skin irritation and itching, especially of the paws, can be signs of a heavily infested environment. The larvae burrow into the skin and cause itching and discomfort. Hookworms are diagnosed with a microscopic examination of a stool sample. Since there are many eggs produced daily, they are easily detected. One adult female hookworm may produce as many as 20,000 eggs a day! All pups should be dewormed with a veterinary-approved product at two to three weeks of age. Nursing females should be dewormed with their pups. Nursing may reactivate hookworm infection in the female. Adult hookworms do not infect humans; however, the larvae can burrow into human skin. This causes itching, commonly called “ground itch”, but the worms do not mature into adults. Direct contact of human skin to moist, hookworm infested soil is required. Fortunately, this does not occur often if normal hygiene practices are observed. In rare instances, the canine hookworm will penetrate into deeper tissues and partially mature in the human intestine
Roundworms- Roundworms (nematodes or Ascarids) are intestinal parasites that live freely in the intestine, feeding off of partially digested intestinal contents. Their name is derived from their tubular or “round” shape. Roundworms are most threatening to puppies. The most common consequence of roundworms is growth reduction. Since roundworms feed off of partially digested food, they rob the growing puppy of vital nutrients. These puppies often have a characteristic “pot-belly” that is due to the growing roundworms inside the puppy’s abdomen. Microscopic eggs are passed from infected dogs in the feces. These are ingested by sniffing or licking infected feces. They are also spread by other animals such as rodents and birds. In these animals, the roundworms are merely transported If the infected eggs of Toxocara canis are swallowed by people, the larvae can invade the tissues and become encysted in various organs. Humans act like any other paratenic host. If a large number of infected eggs are ingested, clinical disease may become apparent. This is particularly important if children are infected with roundworms.
Whipworms- Whipworms are intestinal parasites which are about 1/4 inch (6 mm) long. They live in the cecum and colon of dogs where they cause severe irritation to the lining of those organs. This results in watery, bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and general debilitation. They are one of the most pathogenic worms found in dogs. Whipworms pass microscopic eggs in the stool. The eggs are very resistant to drying and heat, so they can remain viable in the dog's environment for years. They mature and are able to reinfect the dog in 10-60 days. The eggs are swallowed and return to the lower intestinal tract to complete the life cycle. Two treatments are needed at a three to four week interval, but because reinfection is such a problem, it is advisable to treat again every three to four months or to put the dog on a heartworm prevention product that contains an ingredient that prevents infection with whipworms. Whipworms are diagnosed by finding eggs with a microscopic examination of the stool. However, multiple stool samples are often required because these parasites pass small numbers of eggs on an irregular basis. Any dog with chronic diarrhea can be reasonably suspected to have whipworms, regardless of several negative stool examinations. It is an accepted practice to treat chronic diarrhea by administering a whipworm dewormer. Whipworms are not infectious to people. They are exclusive parasites of the dog.
Tapeworms- Tapeworms are flattened intestinal worms that are made up of many small segments, each about ¼ – ½ inch (3-5 mm) long. The adult worms may reach up to 8 inches (20 cm) in length. The individual segments are developed from the head end and gradually mature, finally being shed at the opposite end, either singly or in short chains. These segments are passed in the feces when the dog defecates. They are about 1/8” (3 mm) long and look like grains of rice or cucumber seeds. Occasionally they can be seen moving on the hairs around the anus or on freshly passed feces. As the tapeworm segment dries, it becomes a golden color and the fertilized eggs are released into the environment. Tapeworms do not normally cause serious health problems in dogs. Occasionally dogs will drag their bottoms on the ground scooting in order to allay this irritation but this behavior can be for other reasons such as impacted anal sacs. In puppies, heavy tapeworm infestation can be more serious. The worm can then be passed either in the feces or vomited. Flea control is critical in the management and prevention of tapeworm infection. Flea control involves treatment of your dog and the environment. Your veterinarian can recommend safe and effective flea control for your pet. If your dog lives in a flea-infested environment, re-infection with tapeworms may occur in as little as two weeks. Contracting tapeworms from your dog is not common or likely. A person must swallow an infected flea to become infected.
Coccidia- Coccidia are sub-classified into a number of genera, and each genus has a number of species. At least six different genera of coccidia can infect dogs. These microscopic parasites spend part of their life cycle in the lining cells of the intestine. Most infections are not associated with any detectable clinical signs. These infections are called sub-clinical infections. Most clinical infections in dogs are caused by the species Isospora canis. Cryptosporidium parvum is another coccidian parasite that may cause diarrhea in some puppies. Oocysts (immature coccidia) are passed in the feces of an infected dog. These oocysts are very resistant to environmental conditions and can survive for some time on the ground. Dogs may also be indirectly infected by eating a mouse that is infected with coccidia. Most dogs that are infected with coccidia do not have diarrhea or other clinical signs. When the coccidial oocysts are found in the stool of a dog without diarrhea, they are generally considered a transient, insignificant finding. However, in puppies and debilitated adult dogs, coccidiosis may cause severe, watery diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal distress, and vomiting. In severe cases, death may occurThe most common coccidia found in dogs do not have any affect on humans.
Giardia- Most dogs that are infected with Giardia do not have diarrhea or any other signs of illness. When the eggs (cysts) are found in the stool of a dog without diarrhea, they are generally considered a transient, insignificant finding, unless symptoms are arising. However, in puppies and debilitated adult dogs, they may cause severe, watery diarrhea that may be fatal. A dog becomes infected with Giardia when it swallows the cyst stage of the parasite. Once inside the dog's intestine, the cyst goes through several stages of maturation. Eventually, the dog passes infective cysts in the stool. These cysts lie in the environment and can infect other dogs. Giardia may also be transmitted through drinking infected water. Giardia can cause diarrhea in humans. If your dog is diagnosed with giardiasis, environmental disinfection is important.
Prevention is the best defense
Adult dogs and cats should have their stool examined a minimum of once a year or anytime they have diarrhea or gastrointestinal signs. The stool sample should be fresh and can be placed in a clean plastic bag (ie:Ziploc). Eggs of hookworms, roundworms and whipworms are passed in feces and can contaminate the soil for years. Daily removal of feces will decrease contamination of the soil with eggs. Some heartworm preventions also prevent hookworm, roundworm and whipworm re infections. This way while you’re preventing your dog from heartworm disease you can also protect him from getting other worms from the environment in which he walks and plays.
