Hope Animal Hospital Winter Newsletter

Hope Animal Hospital Winter 2009 Newsletter

Spring is coming and so are parasites, so its time to get your pet prepared.

Why are pet parasites a human health concern?
Some parasites of animals can be transmitted to people, causing health issues. This is called zoonosis which refers to infections and diseases passed from animals to humans. In the case of intestinal parasites, transmission occurs through accidental oral ingestion of parasites eggs, from accidental ingestion of an infected flea, or by penetration of the skin by parasite larvae (hookworms only).

BE AWARE OF WHAT ZOONOTIC PARASITES CAN BE GIVEN TO YOUR FAMILY.

Fleas
Fleas are small insects that feed on you and your pet’s blood. They can cause anemia as well as severe allergies in pets. With new products they are easier to treat and prevent than ever before.

The most common of all canine and feline external parasites
Flea bites can lead to itchy welts or an overall rash in people
Fleas carry and transmit allergens and disease-causing organisms to people

Roundworms
Virtually every puppy and kitten is born with roundworms or can become infected while nursing
Children playing in contaminated dirt or sand can become infected with roundworms by putting their dirty fingers in their mouths

Roundworms eggs can hatch in a child’s stomach causing blindness and damage to the abdominal organs.

This is a common worm of puppies and kittens, but can be seen in any age dog or cat. D Diagnosis is made from a microscopic examination of the feces or from a description of the worm if it is seen in the stool or vomit.

Treatment is an oral medication given at 2 week intervals. Symptoms will vary from none to marked vomiting and diarrhea, and abdominal swelling. Prevention is accomplished by isolating your pet from infected feces of other animals. For dogs, the heartworm preventives (Interceptor) also control roundworm infection. Roundworm infections in cats can be controlled with the heartworm preventives Revolution and Interceptor.

Hookworms
Hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin. Children can become infected by walking barefoot in contaminated soil or putting contaminated dirt in their mouths. Hookworms cause lesions where they penetrate the skin: infected children may suffer from intestinal bleeding, anemia, abdominal pain and diarrhea

The is also a common worm of puppies and kittens but is seen with equal frequency in adults. This parasite sucks your pet’s blood and can cause a severe anemia. Diagnosis is made from a microscopic examination of your pet’s stool. Treatment is an oral medication. That is repeated 2 weeks later. Symptoms will vary from none to blood in the stool (dark tar-colored stool) with diarrhea. Severe cases may need a blood transfusion and hospitalization. The heartworm preventives Interceptor and Revolution also control hookworms.

Heartworms (Very Rare in Humans)

The deadliest of all canine AND feline parasites
Since heartworms are spread by mosquitos, every dog and cat is at risk
While infection among humans has been documented, it is very rare

Adult heartworms live in the right side of the heart. They are 6-14 inches long. Several hundred may be present in the dog. It takes only one worm to cause severe problems, even death in cats. Heartworms impair blood circulation, resulting in damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys. Serious damage may occur, even before outward clinical signs are detected by the owner. Advanced signs include difficult breathing, coughing, tiring easily, listlessness, and loss of weight, and fainting. Often the first sign of a problem in cats is sudden death. Heartworms are found throughout the United States and Canada.

We strongly recommend Interceptor, a heartworm preventive, which also aids in the prevention of other internal parasites. It should be given all year long and routine testing for heartworms once each year is required for all dogs.

Giardia
Humans can become infected with Giardia so special care must be taken to wash hands and utensils in hot water with disinfectants.

This parasite is not a worm. It is a very tiny single cell parasite that can live in the intestines of dogs, cats and man. It is seen most commonly in dogs and cats coming out of kennel-type situations (pet stores, shelters, pounds, etc.) but its incidence is increasing. Symptoms include intermittent or continuous diarrhea, weight loss, depression, and loss of appetite. Diagnosis is made by testing the feces for Giardia antigen. Treatment is oral medication.

Coccidia - Cryptosporidium

Human transmission is uncommon but can occur
Parasites can be found in public water

This is also a single-celled parasite. It is seen primarily in puppies and kittens, although debilitated adults can also be affected. Transmission occurs by eating the infective stage of the parasite. It then reproduces in the intestinal tract causing no symptoms in mild cases to bloody diarrhea in severely affected pets. Diagnosis is made from a fresh stool sample. Treatment varies greatly. Animals showing no signs of illness are often not treated because a mild case is often self-limiting. Pets with diarrhea are treated at home with an oral medication. Severely affected pets may need hospitalization. Prevention involves disposal of all stools and cleaning the pet’s living area.

Toxoplasma

Particular concern to pregnant women because of the potential to cause birth defects in newborns.
Caused by an infection with a coccidian
Cat swallows cysts like sacs that are in the soil or in the tissue of small birds and mammals
Parasites develop in wall of the cat’s intestine
Then produces more cysts that pollute the cat’s surroundings in its own feces

Humans can contract this infection when exposed to infected cat feces, raw meat, and contaminated drinking water. To keep your cat from becoming infected with Toxoplama keep your cat indoors, prevent it from hunting, and do not give your cat food scraps.

Sarcoptic Mange

A scaly, itchy skin condition of dogs
Mite directly infects dogs and humans

Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted from an infected dog to humans causing a rash. Several treatments are available to rid your pet of this pesky external parasite.

What can you do to Protect your pet and family?
Contaminated pet droppings can carry infective eggs, the source of most pet to human infections. Follow these steps to help protect your pet and family:

Deworm your pet on a regular schedule recommended by your veterinarian. This removes internal parasites and prevents further contamination of the environment.
Practice good hygiene. Wash hands regularly, especially after handling pets or cleaning up pet wasted.
Remove pet droppings from your yard at least 2 to 3 times a week—daily is best.
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
Keep pets flea-free. Ingestion of fleas can transmit tapeworms to animals and people.
Do not allow children to go barefoot or sit or lie on playgrounds where they may be exposed to animal’s stools.
Clean cat litter boxes daily, and wash hands afterward.
Do not drink water from streams or other sources that may be contaminated with animal feces.
Keep pets clean.

IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO GET A NEW PUPPY OR KITTEN OR YOUR PET IS SHOWING SIGNS OF PARASITES; YOUR PET MUST SEE A VETERINARY TO CONFIRM THE ABSENT OF THESE DANGEROUS, SILENT KILLERS.

YOUR PET NEEDS TO HAVE A ROUTINE FECAL AND PARASITE CHECK DONE EVERY SIX MONTHS EVEN IF NO SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT.

Hope Animal Hospital recommends Interceptor, which is a heart worm preventative. Interceptor also controls roundworms, whipworm and hook worms.

Sentinel is also a Great product that protects against everything Interceptor does as well as fleas.

We also carry Drontal and Drontal Plus—
Only Drontal and Drontal Plus remove up to 100% of tapeworms, up to 100% hookworms and up to 99.9% or roundworms. Drontal Plus also removes problematic whipworms – up to 94%

Call us for an appointment if any symptoms do show up in your pet.

Read the Winter 2008 Newsletter