{"id":41,"date":"2016-02-19T16:06:37","date_gmt":"2016-02-19T21:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.truecareveterinaryhospital.com\/blog\/?p=41"},"modified":"2020-09-09T16:05:19","modified_gmt":"2020-09-09T20:05:19","slug":"41-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.truecareveterinaryhospital.com\/blog\/41-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting the Creepy Crawlies? Intestinal Parasites in Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TrueCare_iStock_000083778119_Large\"<\/span>Preventing and treating intestinal parasites in pets is extremely important to maintaining their health and wellness. Animals are more prone than people to intestinal parasites because they engage in different activities. They spend more time close to the ground, groom themselves by licking, ingest rodents and the like, and sometimes even like to eat things we would never dream of eating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mounting a good defense against these creepy crawlies is an essential part of good pet care. It is vital that pet owners understand the risks of intestinal parasites and how to prevent them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The (Un)Wanted List<\/b><\/h3>\n

There are a few common offenders that all pet owners need to be aware of. Some of the more common intestinal parasites that affect our pets include:<\/span><\/p>\n

Roundworms<\/b> \u2013 Roundworms look a lot like white spaghetti when they are mature and are an extremely common parasite. We often find them in puppies and kittens. Some pets with roundworms may experience vomiting or diarrhea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hookworms <\/b>\u2013 Hookworms are also not uncommon, but we usually don\u2019t see them with our naked eyes. These intestinal parasites must be detected on microscopic evaluation of the feces. They like to hook onto the insides of the small intestines, feeding on blood. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whipworms<\/b> \u2013 Whipworms are also microscopic parasites that like to cause diarrhea. They are difficult to eliminate from a pet\u2019s environment and are harder to treat than some other parasites.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tapeworms<\/b> \u2013 Tapeworms are often identified as small, rice-like segments attached to the fur around the rectum and sometimes in the stool. These are little parts of a larger tapeworm that lives in the pet\u2019s intestine. Pets can acquire a tapeworm from fleas or ingesting other organisms such as small rodents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coccidia<\/b> \u2013 These microscopic parasites are not a worm, but a single celled organism that can cause diarrhea, often with blood, and\/or vomiting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giardia<\/b> \u2013 Giardia is another single celled organism that lives in a pet\u2019s intestine. This bacterium is often transmitted through contaminated water and may cause chronic diarrhea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Risks of Intestinal Parasites in Pets<\/b><\/h3>\n

Besides being just plain gross, there several reasons to want to be sure that your pet does not have parasites. Pets who are infected with intestinal parasites may:<\/span><\/p>\n