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"It is possible for certain parasites to be transmitted from pets to humans: children and the elderly are especially vulnerable."

Dr. Gary Arzem
Newmarket Veterinarian

Parasite Control is an essential part of our preventative health care program. It is important to protect your pet and prevent transmission of parasites to your “human” family members. We encourage regular fecal testing and year-round parasite control in accordance with the recommendations of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.capcvet.org).

There are a number of intestinal worms and protozoal parasites that can infect dogs and cats. Among the intestinal worms are tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. More than 100,000 eggs can be produced daily by a single worm. These eggs are passed in the pet’s feces and spread throughout the area in which the pet roams. Once in the environment, these eggs can remain infective and present a health risk for your pet and humans for years. There are also a number of single-celled parasites such as Giardia and Isospora (coccidia) which are commonly found among puppies and kittens in breeding facilities, shelters, pet stores, and areas where pets have soiled.

Pets are most commonly infected when they ingest the eggs of intestinal parasites which are passed through the feces of an infected dog or cat. For a pet to be infected with tapeworm, the dog or cat needs to ingest an intermediate host. This intermediate host may be a flea (during grooming) or a small rodent that carries the tapeworm larvae. Some worm species (such as roundworms) can be transmitted to puppies and kittens from their mothers during nursing. In addition, pets which drink from puddles, streams, ponds, and lakes are at risk for acquiring Giardia infections.

Your pet’s stool should be tested at least annually to screen for parasites. When adopting a new pet (whether young or mature), fecal testing should be done to identify any intestinal parasites your pet may have. We recommend that you collect at least 2 different stool samples on 2 different days to maximize the chance that parasitic ova or cysts are identified. It is important to remember that parasite shedding occurs intermittently, so a single stool sample may not contain evidence of the parasite.

Not necessarily. Some pets will be infected with intestinal parasites and appear completely healthy. For this reason, regular fecal testing is essential. Other pets (particularly younger animals or pets with heavy parasite burdens) may show diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, or poor body and coat condition. In some cases, a pet may have only intermittent soft stool or excessive flatulence.

Yes, certain parasites can be passed from pets to humans. Roundworms (the most common intestinal parasite of dogs and cats) can be transmitted to humans through the accidental ingestion of infective worm eggs that have passed in the pet’s feces, and have contaminated the environment. The eggs may hatch in a human’s intestinal tract, and the immature worms may migrate to various tissues in the body, including the eyes and brain. Children and immunocompromised people are at the greatest risk for serious problems.

Please contact our Veterinary Clinic in Newmarket to inquire about protecting your pet from parasites. We have flexible appointment times to accommodate your schedule.