Intestinal parasites pose a significant threat to the well-being of your pet. They affect dogs and cats of all breeds and ages. The prevalence and risk of intestinal parasites to both pets and owners are why virtually all veterinarians recommend routine fecal screens as part of routine pet wellness.
In this comprehensive guide, we will take a detailed look at each of the most common intestinal parasites: Tapeworms, Hookworms, Roundworms, Whipworms, Coccidia, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. We will explore how they are transmitted, common symptoms, and the impact each can have on your pet.
Tapeworm Infections:
A) Transmission:
Tapeworms are commonly transmitted through ingestion of intermediate hosts such as fleas or prey species like mice and rabbits. Four types of tapeworm can infect your pet: Dipylidium caninum, Taenia, Echinococcus, and Mesocestoides. There are certain types of tapeworms that humans can get, but thankfully, none of them come directly from our pets.
B) Symptoms:
Most infected pets do not show any obvious symptoms, which is why it is important to test your pet regularly, even if they look and appear fine. Symptoms may include weight loss or an itchy, irritated bum, leading them to lick this area or scoot on the floor. Tapeworm segments can be visible to the naked eye and look like small grains of rice, either on the stool itself or stuck to your pet's bum.
C) Impact on Your Pet:
Tapeworms attach to the intestinal lining, absorbing nutrients and potentially causing weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Pets with high numbers of intestinal parasites can also experience chronic digestive issues, vomiting, diarrhea, or even intestinal obstruction.
Hookworm Infections:
A) Transmission:
Dogs and cats can contract hookworms in a contaminated environment. This may happen by ingesting the larvae in another infected animal's feces, ingesting an infected prey animal (such as rodents and cockroaches), or even directly through their skin or paws. Puppies can also get hookworms in their mother's womb or from drinking their mother's milk. The larval stage of this parasite can migrate and can travel to the skin or lungs.
Hookworms are zoonotic, meaning they can infect humans. Human infections can occur directly through the skin when walking barefoot in a contaminated environment or if you accidentally touch infected feces with bare hands.
B) Common Symptoms:
Most infected pets do not show any obvious symptoms, which is why it is important to test your pet regularly even if they look and appear fine. Signs a pet may have hookworm include weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, poor haircoat, dry cough, skin itchiness or redness, and even anemia (a low number of red blood cells).
C) Impact on Your Pet:
Hookworms suck blood from their hosts by embedding themselves in the wall of their intestines, causing blood loss and potential anemia. Additional interventions for anemia may be necessary if an infection is severe.
Roundworm Infections:
A) Transmission:
Dogs and cats can contract roundworms by ingesting eggs in another infected animal's feces or a contaminated environment (e.g. soil), by licking their fur, by consuming prey animals (such as mice), or from their mother's womb or mother's milk.
Since this parasite can 'hibernate' or 'encyst', repeated or routine deworming may be recommended. However, some geographical regions are starting to encounter roundworm infections that are resistant to certain deworming medications. To prevent reinfection, timely removal of pet waste is essential, as roundworm eggs can survive in the environment for years.
Some species of roundworms are zoonotic, meaning they can infect humans. Eggs can live months - or even years in contaminated soil. Even old feces that have been left in the environment pose a potential contamination risk. Uncovered sandboxes may also pose a risk, as infected outdoor cats may use these as a litterboxes. To prevent roundworm infections in humans, do not walk barefoot in an area with infected feces, and wash your hands thoroughly before eating. If you have any questions about your own risk, please contact your human healthcare provider.
B) Common Symptoms:
Most infected pets do not show any obvious symptoms, which is why it is important to test your pet regularly even if they look and appear fine. Signs a pet with roundworms may experience include acting or looking a bit "off" with a poor hair coat. The most common signs is diarrhea or a pot-belly appearance. Occasionally, these worms may be vomited up.
C) Impact on Your Pet:
Roundworms can migrate to different body parts, leading to various symptoms. Rarely high amounts of worms can cause pneumonia or even intestinal obstruction. Roundworm larvae can even migrate. In younger dogs, some species will encyst or 'hibernate' in the liver, in older dogs they can even be found elsewhere in the body. Some species can also migrate to the airways in the lungs, uterus, or mammary tissue.
Whipworm Infections:
A) Transmission:
Dogs and cats can contract whipworms by ingesting eggs in another infected animal's feces or a contaminated environment (e.g. soil), or by licking contaminated fur. Eggs can live for months or even years in contaminated soil. Whipworms tend to be species-specific, meaning the type of whipworms that infect dogs only infect other dogs, not cats and humans or vice versa.
B) Common Symptoms:
Most infected pets do not show any obvious symptoms, which is why it is important to test your pet regularly even if they look and appear fine. Cats in particular will rarely show any symptoms of whipworm infection. Signs a pet with whipworm may experience include bloody, mucousy (slimy) diarrhea, reduced appetite, weight loss, and experience straining to defecate.
C) Impact on Your Pet:
Whipworms reside in the large intestine, causing bloody diarrhea and potential weight loss. In rare cases, some pets will have weakness, abdominal pain, slow heart rate, and muscle tremors that can mimic a disease called Addison's.
Coccidia Infections:
A) Transmission:
Coccidia are microscopic, single-celled parasites that can infect the intestinal tract. Coccidia eggs, called oocysts, can be ingested from the environment. They can also be contracted by ingesting a prey species (such as mice). Coccidia is often seen in stressful environments such as shelters, breeding facilities, or kennels. Newly adopted pets should be screened for coccidia along with other fecal parasites. Although there are a few species that can infect both animals and humans (such as Toxoplasma), the majority of coccidia are species-specific. Coccidia are very resilient and can stay in the environment for months. Prompt removal of stool is essential to preventing infection and reinfection.
B) Common Symptoms:
Coccidia infections are most common in young or debilitated animals with poor immune systems. Symptoms include diarrhea and are more common in stressful environments.
C) Impact on Your Pet:
While most coccidial infections are self-limiting (meaning they will resolve themselves with time), animals with weakened immune systems may still be at risk. The need for treatment will therefore depend on if your pet continues to show symptoms or if they are putting other pets at risk. Since coccidia are NOT worms, they cannot be prevented with routine deworming. Fecal testing is the only way to screen and test for this organism. If your pet tests positive for coccidia, please contact your veterinarian for your pet's individual needs.
Giardia Infections:
A) Transmission:
Giardia is a parasitic organism that can be contracted directly by ingesting fecal matter from an infected animal or indirectly by ingesting fecal-contaminated soil, food, or water. Young animals, or animals in stressful environments such as a shelter, are at higher risk for developing an infection.
Specific subtypes of Giardia can be zoonotic, meaning humans can contract this parasite. Giardia cysts can be difficult to remove from the environment but are susceptible to direct sunlight and freezing temperatures. Removing feces immediately from the environment and general hand washing hygiene should be considered to prevent transmission to humans.
B) Common Symptoms:
Most infected pets do not show any obvious symptoms, which is why it is important to test your pet regularly even if they look and appear fine. Symptoms may be subtle or include diarrhea and weight loss.
C) Impact on Your Pet:
Giardia infection often leads to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss in pets. In some cases, Giardia can lead to chronic infections, causing recurring bouts of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. Prolonged Giardia infection can weaken a pet's immune system, making them susceptible to other infections and illnesses.
Since Giardia is not an intestinal worm, most dewormers do not cover this parasite. Fecal testing is the only way to screen and test for this organism. Not every pet with Giardia requires treatment as it depends on their age, immune status, symptoms, or is putting other pets at risk. If your pet tests positive for Giardia, please contact your veterinarian for your pet's individual needs.
Cryptosporidium Infections:
A) Transmission:
Cryptosporidium is a type of coccidia, which is a single-celled parasite called a protozoan. Infections occur from the ingestion of Cryptosporidium eggs (known as oocysts) from contaminated food, water, raw diets, feces, or infected prey animals.
B) Common Symptoms:
Most infected pets do not show any obvious symptoms, which is why it is important to test your pet regularly. Younger pets, pets with compromised immune systems, or pets with concurrent infections are more likely to have clinical symptoms including diarrhea, and weight loss.
C) Impact on Your Pet:
Cryptosporidium infections can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss in pets, as well as dehydration and lethargy.
Since Cryptosporidium is not an intestinal worm, most dewormers do not cover this parasite. Fecal testing is the only way to screen and test for this organism. Not every pet with Cryptosporidium requires treatment as it depends on their age, immune status, symptoms, or is putting other pets at risk. Please contact your veterinarian for your pet's individual needs. Veterinarians may prescribe antiprotozoal medications for the treatment of severe cases.
General Parasite Prevention Tips:
Some veterinarians will recommend deworming medication and/or flea and tick medication as a preventative for your pet. However, there are various types of deworming medications, and the specific one recommended depends on the type of worm infection. Additionally, parasites that are not worms (such as Coccidia, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium) are not covered by routine deworming medications.
The most important step to ensure your pet’s healthy and parasite-free is to perform a routine fecal test for ova and parasites. This gives your veterinarian the information they need to isolate the parasite in question and provide the specific medication your pet needs to get back to their best as quickly as possible.
Petlio Fecal Screening:
Petlio Fecal Screening allows you to collect a fecal sample from the convenience of your home and test for the most common parasites. Clear and fast results mean less time in the dark and more time getting your pet back to its best. Obtain the peace of mind that no parasites were detected or share ahead of an appointment with your veterinarian so you can get to treatment faster.
Petlio identifies tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and coccidia in samples by centrifugation floatation and microscopy. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are identified through lateral flow antigen testing.
