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Upcoming EventsOur Partner Briarwood Animal Hisoutal is hosting an Open House on June 2, 2007 from 12 - 2pm. You are cordially invited to tour the clinic, meet the doctors and staff, and enjoy BBQ and refreshments. They will have prize giveaways, product representatives, and a demonstration by the Little Rock police K-9 unit! See their new parking lot, outdoor exercise area for dogs, memorial pet park, and more. You’re sure to have a “dog-gone” good time! See you there! CVAH Monthly Hot Spot!The Secret Life of WormsMost everyone is familiar with the fact that animals can get “worms”—or intestinal parasites. However, are you aware of their impact? Parasites can cause clinical symptoms of illness in your pet, but they can also be a threat to you and your family. Get the facts on the life cycle of these parasites, the potential harm they cause, as well as preventative and treatment options. Major players:The most common intestinal parasites are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Only slightly less popular is coccidia. Coccidia isn’t actually a worm, it’s a protozoon. Basically, it’s a one-celled organism that infects the intestine causing symptoms similar to other parasites. We also must consider Giardia and Toxoplasma (also protozoa). How does a pet become infected?Most of these parasites are found in the feces of infected animals. Pets get these through ingesting the egg or larval stages from the ground. This can happen in your yard, but is especially common when animals visit pet-friendly parks, or other areas that numerous animals frequent. Raccoons and other wild animals can also transmit parasites. If you live in a wooded or rural area, you may experience more problems with parasites than pet owners who live in a fenced-yard neighborhood. Once parasites have entered an area, they can live for up to 2 years. Exceptions to the fecal-oral method of infection are tapeworms, hookworms, and Giardia. Tapeworms develop to an infective stage in the body of a flea. So, pets get tapeworms by ingesting a flea (chewing or licking itchy skin can allow this). Hookworms can be transmitted through feces, but can also penetrate the skin, especially if cuts or other wounds are present. Giardia is found in water. If your pet swims in lakes, ponds, or creeks, they may be susceptible to Giardia (this was a major concern for dogs in Louisiana during the Hurricane Katrina disaster). There are other parasites that can be contracted by eating raw meat (rabbits, birds, mice, pork, etc). Symptoms:Animals may or may not show symptoms of parasitic disease. This depends on the duration of infection, and the number of worms present. Common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, coughing, lethargy, change in appetite, bloating, and failure to gain weight. The Human Factor:Humans can become infected with parasites contracted either from their pet or the environment. Visceral larval migrans is a human concern where intestinal parasites (particularly roundworms) can migrate through the body and cause infection in various organ systems. The more serious complications of this include infection in the eye or brain, which can lead to blindness, seizures, or other deficits. Children are especially at risk due to outside activity and poor hygiene. Toxoplasma is carried by cats, and is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause defects or even miscarriage. For this reason, obstetricians recommend that women who are pregnant or may become pregnant avoid contact with litter boxes and cat feces. What do we do?The Center for Disease Control recommends routinely testing and deworming pets for intestinal parasites. At Briarwood, we test for parasites and deworm pets every 6 months (more often for pets with recurrent infections). Test results are not 100%, therefore, deworming is recommended even for patients whose fecal results are negative. Also, some monthly heartworm preventatives include a deworming treatment for intestinal parasites. Regular cleaning of the yard, or area where the animal defecates will help prevent infection or re-infection. Good hygiene such as washing hands before eating, after children play outside, after playing with your pet, after yard work, etc. will significantly lessen your chances of infection. Ask your veterinarian today for his/her recommendations for your pet, and be aware of the potential harm parasites can cause |
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