PARASITE PREVENTION

Veterinarians are often asked if the parasites we diagnose in animals can be transmitted to people. The answer is yes. It is possible, but it is an uncommon occurrence.

A parasite relies on a specific host animal to sustain life, often at the host’s expense. The parasite cannot complete its life cycle, and successfully reproduce, without its specific host. When a parasite infects the wrong host, it usually is unable to thrive and causes no symptoms. But there are a few exceptions.

Roundworms are the most common parasite we diagnose in puppies and kittens at our hospital, and can cause diarrhea and vomiting. They can also cause infection in children that can lead to blindness in severe cases. While this is very uncommon, it is one of the reasons why the Centers for Disease Control recommends all pets be de-wormed at least four times a year. How are roundworms transmitted? Infective roundworm eggs are shed in the stool. So anytime your pet is exposed to an area where another pet has eliminated (i.e. dog park, along sidewalks, etc.), they are at risk of exposure. The easiest way to prevent roundworms is to routinely de-worm all puppies and kittens, and get them on a monthly parasite preventative, like Heartgard®. It has the added benefit of protecting against heartworm disease. Of course, teaching children to wash their hands, avoiding “puppy kisses” on the face, and using gloves to handle the stool of animals are also essential steps to prevent disease transmission.

At Colonial Terrace Animal Hospital, the parasites that upsets both people and their pets the most are fleas. They can cause tremendous discomfort for your pet, especially if your pet is allergic to flea saliva. Like mosquitoes that feed on your blood, fleas feed on your pet’s blood. This gives them the energy to produce eggs at astounding rates that then fall off your pet into the surrounding environment; your home. When a home becomes infested by a large number of fleas, the fleas may start to attempt to feed on anything that moves, including people. They can leave itchy, bites around the ankles of people who are sensitive to the flea saliva. Fortunately, the treatment (and preventative) for fleas is as simple as a once a month topical medication, like Frontline® or Revolution®. These medications treat the fleas on your pet, and provide residual protection that takes care of any new fleas that infest your pet through the month. There are a lot of competitors on the market that claim to treat and prevent fleas. Many of these treatments are ineffective and sometimes toxic, especially to cats. It is always best to ask your veterinarian for advice when it comes to medicating your animals.

Ticks are not host-specific like roundworms and fleas are. That means they will latch onto any warm body that comes their way, including humans. While it is possible for a pet to carry a tick into the house and for it to fall off and attach to a human, in most cases the human has picked the tick up all on their own just walking through the grass. Ticks can carry a multitude of diseases, so the best thing to do if you spot one on you or your pet is to grasp it with a tweezers and gently pull it out. After removing the tick, immerse it in rubbing alcohol. Do not attempt to use a match to burn it out, this will only create more irritation. We recommend the use of Frontline® for pets that either live or travel in areas where ticks or fleas are particularly troublesome. With the risk of tick-borne diseases being higher for your pets, this makes it even more important to be on one of the preventatives. For the most part, collars are ineffective against ticks (and fleas too).

Your best defense in the fight against parasites is to be informed. Call us today at Colonial Terrace Animal Hospital to find out what parasite prevention program your pet should be on, not only for your pet’s comfort, but also for your own health.