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 Today’s article will be about the parasites that affect kittens and puppies and that can cause serious health problems which might result in death.
The internal parasites, endoparasites, can infest different internal organs of the body depending on the animal’s living conditions and the area where they live. They are widely common in the intestines but can sometimes be seen in the lungs and, even if it is not very common, also in the heart muscles.
Today I am going to give you some information about the intestine and stomach parasites, gastrointestinal parasites, of dogs and cats.
Most common Gastrointestinal parasites are Roundworms (Nematode) and Tapeworms (Taenia). Tapeworms are seen in puppies and kittens which are over three months old and the source of a tapeworm infestation is commonly an infected flea that has been swallowed by the pet. Tapeworms do not cause significant health problems in dogs and cats.
Nematodes are catagorized into three; Hookworms, Ascarids and Threadworms. These parasites mostly enter through the digestive tract. This happens generally through the consumption of food which is infected by the larval parasites and contaminated water. Young animals can also be infected through mother’s milk. Besides, hookworms can burrow through the skin and infect the pet. How does it happen? The larvae of the hookworm, which are not visible to the naked eye, penetrate the skin and end up in the body of the dog or cat. The clinical signs mainly differ depending on the age, nutrition, pet care and how heavy the infestation is. The symptoms are weightloss, dull and dry coat and fatigue. Infected kittens and puppies may also exhibit stunted growth and diarrhea.
Diarrhea which is caused by hookworms is bloody and may be foul-smelling. Tapeworms can also cause diarrhea which may contain mucous.
Especially ascarids damage the villi of the intestines. This results in the perforation of the intestines and causes stunted growth specially in young animals. If the infestation is heavy, the parasites might cause intestinal obstruction. The toxins excreted by the parasites may lead to neurological diseases (epilepsy, menengitis).
How to treat and prevent internal parasites?
In young pets, both deworming and a symptomatic treatment is necessary. Even in adult pets is a diarrhea treatment advisable.
Among the substances needed to treat internal parasites are Pyrantel Pamoate, Fenbendazole, Ivermektin, Praziquantel. In our clinic, we use tablets which include these substances. For dogs and cats which refuse to swallow the tablets, we use pranziquantel injections. If it is necessary, we use products which are applied on the neck of the pet as a supportive aid in the treatment.
A study which was carried out by the veterinaries of Gumusluk and Bodrum showed that many dogs and cats in Bodrum area have been affected by parasites.
That’s why, we advise the pet owners to deworm their pets regularly. Worming frequency depends on the current situation, such as how often a pet is affected by the parasites, but in general deworming the pet every three months will be sufficient.
These routine dewormings reduce also the risk of transmission of the internal parasites in dogs and cats to human beings. These parasites can cause hydatic cysts in humans. But we will talk about this disease another time. Selahattin Hilaloglu Ozge Veterinary ClinicGumuslukBodrum Phone: 0252 394 39 81GSM : 0532 394 12 15Email:
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Translated by Gumusluk.Org
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Vet Corner 
