Pets and Parasites Part 1 – Roundworms

Parasites pose a very real health risk to our pets as well as our families. Over the next several blog posts, we will be examining some of the major parasites that we encounter in our region, beginning with the roundworm. Roundworms are one of the most common worms we see at Kindler Animal Hospital.

How do pets get roundworms?

Puppies can actually get infected from their mother before they are even born. Both puppies and kittens can get infected from their mother’s milk. Older pets can become infected by ingesting microscopic worm eggs in contaminated soil. If your pet is a hunter, they can get roundworms by consuming certain prey animals such as rodents. Indoor only pets can also become infected by ingesting insects such as flies.

How can roundworms harm my pet?

These worms most commonly cause diarrhea and may also cause vomiting. They steal nutrients from the pets they infect and can cause anemia. These parasites actually migrate to the lungs during their development, and if the infection is severe enough, it can lead to pneumonia.

Can roundworms harm my family?

Unfortunately, roundworms can cause serious health risk to people. Roundworm eggs are not visible to the human eye. If the eggs are accidentally ingested, the roundworms get lost in the human body since we are not their true host in a process called visceral larva migrans. These worms have been known to travel to the eyeball and can cause permanent blindness. Young children, who may accidentally ingest the worm eggs while playing in contaminated soil, are at greatest risk.

How can we protect your pet from roundworms?

It takes multiple dewormings to rid your pet of roundworms. At Kindler Animal Hospital, we recommend following the guidelines put forth by the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) to provide optimal protection. Here is a summary of their recommendations:

• Puppies and kittens should ideally be dewormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age.
• After that, they should be dewormed monthly using a heartworm prevention product that has coverage for roundworms.
• Fecal examinations should be performed 2 to 4 times in the first year of life and then 1 to 2 times per year thereafter. If a pet comes up positive for roundworms in spite of being on prevention, this tells us that they are getting re-exposed in between doses of prevention.
• To help decrease contamination of the environment, feces should be removed from the yard promptly. Try to prevent hunting and scavenging activity if possible.

Our knowledgeable staff can help you design a parasite control program for your pet during your wellness visit.

Don’t forget your cats!

When it comes to internal parasite control, many of our clients have their dogs on prevention but don’t realize how important it is for cats as well. We are currently running a promotion for all new feline wellness patients, or those who have not been seen here within the past 12 months. You will receive one free dose of a broad spectrum parasite control product during your feline wellness visit in the month of July.