The season of high incidence of parasites

Spring is the season of high incidence of parasites. Pet owners should pay attention to the behavioral changes of their pets during daily maintenance. When you have frequent butt rubbing, soft stools, or vomiting, you are likely to be infected with parasites. At this time, you need to deworm in time.

1. Why do dogs and cats need to be dewormed?

Once cats and dogs are infected with parasites, it will have a greater impact on their health, and in severe cases may lead to death. The main hazards include the following three points:< /p>

1. The body is emaciated and the immune system is weak

Once the parasite resides on the pet's body, it relies on sucking the body Without adequate nutrition for reproduction and survival, malnutrition, anemia, and body weight loss will occur.

If parasites are attached to the pet’s intestines or even swim in the body, it can easily cause intestinal perforation, bile duct obstruction and other problems. In addition, parasites can also cause secondary bacterial infections, vomiting, bloody stools, poisoning, allergies, etc.

2. Itching, hair loss, and skin disease problems

Some external parasites can cause skin disease problems in pets, such as skin itching, hair loss, etc. In severe cases, they can spread throughout the body. If the environment is humid Or exposure to irritants can accelerate the development of skin diseases.

3. Anemia, red urine, and damage to red blood cells

Ticks are stubborn parasites that can cause Babesia infection after being bitten. This disease can damage the dog’s body. Red blood cells and urine will turn red or soy sauce color after illness, and symptoms such as high fever, anemia, and rapid weight loss will occur. If not treated in time, it can eventually lead to death.

It is difficult to completely cure the infection and may require lifelong blood transfusion treatment. Dogs and cats are more likely to be infected by ticks if they go out frequently.

2. What are the common parasites?

Parasites are divided into external parasites and internal parasites. No matter which one is harmful to the health of cats and dogs, they can cause the spread of diseases. However, Some diseases are zoonotic, so be extra careful.

Internal parasites

Ascaris, hookworm, whipworm, heartworm, lungworm, canine lung fluke, tapeworm, trichinella canis, liver fluke, toxoplasma gondii, canine black fever , Euglena canis, Babesia canis, esophageal nematodes, Tongueworm, amoeba, Trypanosoma evansi, coccidia, etc.

The nematode tapeworm is relatively common. It sucks intestinal nutrients and causes body weight loss. Coccidia and trichomonas can cause bleeding or mushy stools. Heartworms can cause respiratory diseases.

Symptoms:

In the early stage of infection, symptoms include weight loss, lack of energy, diarrhea, and fatigue easily. You need to go to a pet hospital to conduct a laboratory test on your pet’s feces for diagnosis.

External parasites

Scabies mites, Demodex mites, ear itch mites, fleas, hard ticks, lung ticks, lice, soft ticks, etc.

Symptoms:

Itching and hair loss. Dogs and cats generally bite their tails, bodies, and scratch their ears more frequently than before; they are also prone to irritability, and will suddenly lie down and lick their bodies while sleeping or playing.

Fleas can be seen visually as reddish-brown flea poop on the skin.

Zonotic parasitic diseases

Zonotic parasitic diseases are mainly transmitted to humans through ingestion of insect eggs or larvae penetrating the skin. The corresponding manifestations of human clinical symptoms are:

. Cryptosporidiosis: watery diarrhea

.Giardia Giardiasis: diarrhea

. Toxocariasis: larvae migration in internal organs, fundus, nerves

. Hookworm disease: itching, skin larvae migration

. Strongyloidiasis: abdominal pain, urticarial skin disease

. Hydatid disease: liver involvement, accompanied by non-specific clinical symptoms (upper abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, jaundice)

. Toxoplasmosis: fever, pneumonia, myocarditis and meningitis; miscarriage in pregnant women, neonatal death, malformations and neurological sequelae

3. Paths of parasitic infection

1. Carrying by the owner when going out

When the owner goes out, his shoes and socks may carry parasites or eggs.

2. Environmental infection

Various outdoor grasslands, bushes, and woods are all gathering places for parasites. Cats and dogs going out frequently will also increase the chance of being infected with parasites.

3. Raw food infection

If cats and dogs often eat raw food, the raw food is likely to contain a large number of bacteria and bugs, or they may have come into contact with infectious eggs when licking or drinking water. Or larvae can easily cause parasitic infection.

4. Maternal infection

Parasite larvae can infect the fetus through the placenta, such as roundworms and hookworms. Others may be transmitted to lactating pets through milk, such as Toxoplasma parasites.

5. Skin infection

The infective larvae directly penetrate the skin, burrow into the body and migrate to the parasitic site, such as hookworm larvae.

6. Contact infection

Parasite will be transmitted to healthy cats and dogs through direct contact with sick animals. It is also possible that heartworm larvae are transmitted through an intermediate host, a mosquito.

7. Indirect contact infection

Parasites can live in the external environment for a period of time. If healthy cats and dogs come into contact with daily items containing parasites, they may be infected.

Pet owners who touch healthy pets without washing their hands after touching sick pets may also spread parasites!

4. How to deworm cats and dogs

Time to deworm cats

Cats can start deworming at the full moon. To be on the safe side, nematodes can be introduced first , then deworm the tapeworm after two months, once a month from March to June, and then every three months.

Dog deworming time

Dog deworming time can start from the fourth week, and the dog will be dewormed once every 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks. Deworm once a month from March to June, and then every three months.

Internal deworming time

The best time is to do it 3 to 4 hours after the pet has eaten food, and fast for 5 or 6 hours after feeding the deworming medicine. , to ensure that the medicine can exert sufficient effect.

External deworming time

The protective power of external deworming drugs on pets can usually last for one month.

It is not necessary to take a bath before external deworming, but if you take a bath, it is best to wait a day after the fur is completely dry before applying the deworming medicine on the back of the pet's neck where it cannot be licked. , do not take a shower immediately after expelling.

When deworming, you should read the instructions carefully. There are many issues regarding the type, frequency, and side effects of deworming, as well as many precautions for the use of specific deworming drugs.

Answers to misunderstandings about deworming

Don’t you need to deworm if you don’t go out?

Parasites are not only found outdoors. Dogs like to use their mouths and noses to explore the world. Parasites may be present in corners of the home, on carpets, under beds, and when their owners carry them when they go out.

Is deworming once effective for life?

Anthelmintics usually protect pets for one month. There are also products that can maintain protection for three months. The specific frequency of deworming depends on the deworming drug used.

You don’t need to deworm if you can’t see the bugs?

Parasites are divided into internal and external parasites. Fleas that we can see with the naked eye only account for 5% of parasites. The remaining fleas, eggs and larvae may be hidden in the environment, or they may not be visible to the naked eye. into the body.

Should I see worms removed after taking medicine?

Just because you see bugs in your poop does not mean that there are none. They may be larvae that are difficult to detect with the naked eye, and things like trichomonas and coccidia cannot be seen with the naked eye. If adult worms are pulled out, it means that the time interval between deworming is too long!

If you are vaccinated, you don’t need to deworm?

Vaccines do not prevent parasites and have no deworming effect, but regular vaccinations and deworming are required.

Can taking a bath repel insects?

Bathing is to clean the skin and cannot kill fleas and other parasites, so it cannot meet the normal deworming needs. And fleas can survive in water, and frequent bathing can destroy the healthy pH of your skin.

Can cats use dog or human deworming medicine?

There are also differences in how to use different pet anthelmintic drugs. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian or follow the drug instructions for use.

Some dog anthelmintics containing permethrin are strictly prohibited for cats, so it is best to use cat anthelmintics and dog anthelmintics separately.

Parasite is generally difficult to detect in the body. If you have clearly noticed a parasite infection, it means that the problem is serious and you should deworm it in time.

It is recommended that pet owners develop the habit of regular deworming to protect the health of their furry children and their families.