Rebecca Ruch-Gallie
Time to get outside and commune with nature. Which, unfortunately, includes our creepy, crawly friends. Parasites come in two main varieties, external and internal, but all are one thing: bad for our pet’s health. In some instances, they are bad for our health as well. Parasite control is recommended year-round and critical as it gets warmer.
Common parasites that infest the gut include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia and Coccidia. Signs you may see will vary somewhat with the parasite, but vomiting, diarrhea, large belly, lack of appetite, pale gum color and failure to gain weight are common. Both roundworm and hookworms can affect people.
Another common internal parasite is heartworm. This parasite is transmitted by mosquito bites. Despite the name, adult worms live in the blood vessels of the heart and lungs. This causes coughing, difficulty breathing or exercising, weight loss and vomiting.
Common ectoparasites include fleas, ticks, mites and lice. Mites and lice are species specific. Fleas and ticks can affect multiple types of mammals in the house, including humans. There are several organisms that cause disease that are transmitted by ticks and may infect people. Ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and Lyme disease are a few of the diseases transmitted by ticks.
Scared yet? No need, just be cautious and talk to your veterinarian about minimizing the risk to your pet and your family. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.capcvet.org) and Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) are excellent resources for additional information.
~ Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, DVM, MS, is the Service Chief at Colorado State University’s Community Practice & Shelter Medicine Clinic. For pet care information, please visit their website at http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/small-animal/community-practice or call 970-297-5000.