For many, pets are more like family members than animals. As such, it’s easy to forget that our furry friends are still susceptible to all manner of parasites.
Even the most domesticated dogs and cats still enjoy all the benefits of being an animal—they eat questionable things, lick places we may not approve of, and often share the bathroom with several other pets. While natural, these habits can often lead to parasitic infection.
The more you know about common intestinal parasites, the better can protect your pet.
Hookworms & Tapeworms
Hookworms and tapeworms can infect the small intestines of both dogs and cats. Hookworms can cause significant illness, while tapeworms usually do not.
Hookworms thrive in the wall of the small intestine, where they feed off blood from the intestinal well. This attachment causes diarrhea and vomiting. If the parasite remains in the intestine for a long period of time, pets can become anemic and weak; in certain cases, large infections can be fatal.
Tapeworms, in contrast, tend to live in the small intestine but do not attack the intestine itself as drastically. Tapeworms use the small intestine as more of a landing place. While tapeworm infections do not typically cause disease, they can cause itching on the way out, when segments of worms are released in pieces and attach to a pet’s backside.
Whipworms
Whipworms are one of the most notable large bowel parasites.
Whipworms tend to mostly infect dogs, but cats can also be infected. Once whipworms infect your pet, they attach to the wall of the large intestines. The attachment of the parasite is what causes diarrhea, as nutrients are unable to be absorbed due to the colonization of the bowel wall. In some pets, long-term infection can cause weight loss and a dull, dry hair coat. Blood may also be seen in the stool, due to bleeding caused by parasitic attachment.
Roundworms
Roundworms live in any part of the bowel that they can, large or small. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea and general poor health as they colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Aptly named, roundworms are round and appear noodle-like to many pet parents.
Are Intestinal Parasites Dangerous?
Typically, intestinal parasites are most dangerous in young animals. Puppies and kittens are most at risk for disease from these parasites due to their immature immune systems, and because young animals often have more parasites than older animals. Because their bodies are small, young animals can become dehydrated more quickly due to lack of nutrient absorption caused by parasites. They can also suffer from anemia more easily due to the parasite burden in their bodies. This is why young animals are dewormed more frequently than adult animals.
Diagnosing, Treating & Preventing Intestinal Parasites
The tricky part about intestinal parasites is that many of them cannot be seen, leading pet parents to believe their companions are parasite-free. Routine fecal testing is often recommended by veterinarians for this very reason—just because we don’t see the parasites doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
The good news is that these days, we have dewormers that will attack and prevent reinfection for most of the common gastrointestinal parasites. Depending on what type of parasites your pet is at-risk for, your veterinarian may recommend different products. However, most deworming products currently on the market prevent and treat roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and whipworms.
Because so many parasites are spread via feces, keeping your yard clean can help ensure that your dog won’t become re-infected or infect other pets. The same rule applies for cat litter boxes—the cleaner the box, the less chance of spreading parasites.