The Trials and Tribulations of an Intestinal Parasite

As a kennel worker it is our job to observe the dogs’ behavior, eating, and eliminations. It is very common for dogs to go on hunger strikes and have soft stool due to the stress of being in a new environment. Even a small amount of blood in their stool is usually normal, and most likely caused by stress. Even so, it is always important for pet techs to alert management, so they can then let the owners know. In most cases the owners decide if they want us to take “a hands on” or “hands off” approach. “A hands off” approach would be we do nothing and just keep the owner updated of any further changes. “A hands on” approach would be we step in and add rice to the food, to help with soft stool and diarrhea; as rice has a binding effect. We also add fresh chicken or canned wet food to help entice a dog to eat. In the cases where a dog is having soft stool and not eating, we typically just feed them chicken and rice.

Almost 95% of the time the addition or change in the diet helps the animal tremendously. However, there are the 5% that do need to be taken to the veterinarian. One week a Day Play dog started showing some concerning symptoms: he would not eat his food, acted lethargic, and started just passing mucus with bits of blood in it. The keenly observant pet tech that stood guard in Day Play, noticed these concerning signs right away. The owner was alerted immediately, and it was agreed that the big, burly lab should be taken to the Vet.

The dog was diagnosed with Giardia, which is an intestinal parasite dogs get from drinking dirty water and/or eating feces with the parasite in it. The dog was put on quarantine from the Day Play room for ten days, while he took medicine to help rid his body of the parasite. The lab has to eat this white powder that must be mixed in his food along with an anti-diarrhea antibiotic (Metronidazole). The white powder is called Panacurc, which is a dog dewormer. The owner was also given three options on how to change his diet to help cleanse his system and kill the parasite. Option one: add fiber to their current food. The three best fiber options for dogs are: canned pumpkin, bran flakes, and special canned wet food.
Option two: change their dry food to a special Vet certified high in fiber dry food.
Option three: just feed them chicken and rice.
The Vet also kindly reminded the owner to buy baby wipes before we left. Yes, that’s right, baby wipes. Every time the dog has a bowel movement the owner must clean his behind with a baby wipe. This is due to the fact that the dog can re-infect himself if he licks his butt and consumes even a small speck of fecal matter. Not only is the dog banned from Day Play for ten days, and has to take all this medication, but the owner has to take extra precautions for their own health while the dog is sick. Giardia is a zoonotic disease, which means that it can be passed from dog to human. It is important to remember that while the dog is sick, the only way for other dogs and people to get sick from the infected animal is through the consumption of their feces or drinking from their water bowl, while they are sick.

Pet Health Tip #23- Intestinal Parasites

There are several intestinal worms that infest dogs.  The most common intestinal worms are: Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, and Tapeworms.  However, the one that is most commonly SEEN by the owner is the Tapeworm.  It looks like a small grain of rice.  The dog is not actually passing the whole worm.  It is actually passing an immature worm that breaks off the mature worm.  The mature tapeworm can be several inches long and is flat.  Occasionally, if the worm burden is high enough, the owner may also see Roundworms.  These are long spaghetti shaped worms.  Most of the time the dog is only passing the worm eggs which are microscopic.

Symptoms of intestinal parasite infestation include: weight loss (or failure to gain weight) and loose stools.  Occasionally in small puppies, you will also see vomiting.  Hookworms can also cause bloody stools.

Another common intestinal parasite is Giardia.  This is not a worm, but is a protozoa organism.  Dogs with Giardia infections usually have very loose stools to runny diarrhea.

Puppies will often times have multiple infestations.  It is common for them to have Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, and Giardia all at the same time.  This is why it is very important to deworm puppies.  Typically, your veterinarian will deworm your puppy at the same time that it receives its vaccinations.

Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, and Giardia are all transmitted fecal-orally through the ingestion of the eggs.  The infested dog will pass the eggs in their stool and then the next dog usually picks the eggs up on their feet.  Then, when they groom themselves, then ingest the eggs.  The eggs then mature into adult worms.

Tapeworms are transmitted by the flea.  Dogs typically get tapeworms from the biting at the fleas that are biting them.  They then accidentally ingest the flea and the immature stages of the tapeworm are released and mature into tapeworms.  Cats often become infested with tapeworms by eating a rodent (rat/mouse) that has fleas.

Most Heartworm medications also contain medication that will kill Roundworms and Hookworms.  So, you are giving them a monthly heartworm and intestinal worm treatment with each monthly dose.

Tapeworms are not killed by most Heartworm medications.  Also, most over-the-counter medications DO NOT kill Tapeworms.  It is important if you see evidence of your pet passing Tapeworms to make sure you are using a dewormer that kills them.

Intestinal Parasites Seen in Animals - Common Types

If you have an animal, chances are good you have had a run in with intestinal parasites. Most pet owners have had to deal with the common parasites, like roundworms and hookworms, when monitoring their pet’s health, but there are other lesser known parasites which pet owners should know about.

While whipworms are frequent in the southern United States, they are less common, even rare, throughout the country. This parasite causes the most deaths among adult animals that veterinarians see. Whipworms are spread by contact with fecal matter and can live dormant for over five years. This parasite fastens to the intestinal lining and sucks blood, effectively draining the life out of your pet’s health. Most animals will have uncontainable diarrhea and are very anemic. If the infection is not controlled, lasting scarring can occur in the intestinal lining causing permanent diarrhea. Whipworms are a canine only disease.

Tapeworms are also familiar for animals too and are one of the most annoying parasites in pet health care to date. This parasite can cause vomiting and diarrhea but is not terminal for animals. Many people have had contact with this parasite. It looks like pieces of rice around dog’s and cat’s rectums. Tapeworms are spread by infected fleas and rodents to our pets. Tapeworms need two hosts to stay alive. The egg packets are what causes the chief infestation in fleas and rodents. Using flea products that kill or repel fleas from our pets effortlessly controls tapeworms.

Coccidia is a parasite that can be difficult to correctly diagnose in pet health. This parasitic disease tends to only involve young animals and can be hard to find even on a microscopic level. It can be incorrectly diagnosised as parvo because it can also cause vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Animals bought from a pet store or from breeders with lots of litters tend to have the highest incidences of coccidia.

Giardia is a parasite that is found in inactive water. It affects both cats and dogs and even can also affect humans, affecting both pet health and their owners. Giardia causes watery diarrhea in pets and in humans. If you have heard the adage, don’t drink the water, it is this parasite which has garnered this honor.

These parasites are very different in size and shape and cause different problems, but there are a few things you can do to keep your pet’s health parasite free. Parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms are easily controlled by oral medications. Probably the best long-term option for these parasites is heartworm preventatives because they are wormed monthly. Parasites tend to be in high concentrations in areas where animals are kept in large numbers and close quarters. Fenced-in pets and animals on chains should have their feces removed daily to keep the parasite levels low. And finally, keeping your animal clean and out of dirty environments can decrease the risk for both coccidia and giardia. Most veterinarians recommend yearly fecals, and after that test is complete your veterinarian can recommend any number of preventatives.