Hartland Animal Hospital - Creature Care

Internal Parasites

A parasite is simply defined as one living thing deriving its source of life from another living
thing. There are parasites such as fleas that live on the outside of an animal. These are called
ectoparasites. (We will discuss these later.) There are other parasites that live on the inside of
another animal. These are called endoparasites. The endoparasites that we will discuss today, are
the four most common ones in dogs and cats. These four are roundworms, hookworms,
whipworms and tapeworms.

Roundworms live in the small intestines of dogs and cats. They are usually the cause of a pot-bellied appearance seen in puppies and kittens. Roundworms rob the host animal of its nutrition. Puppies and kittens are infested early in life since they can get roundworms from their mothers. Roundworms can cross the womb of the mother to the unborn animal. They can also get into the milk and infest the puppies and kittens.

Hookworms also live in the small intestine of dogs and Cats. They attach to the intestine with hook-like teeth and suck blood. Animals can become very anemic and need a blood transfusion if the hookworms are numerous. Hookworms like roundworms, can cross the womb or get into the mother's milk.

Whipworms live in the large intestine of dogs. Cats are rarely affected by this parasite. Whipworms usually cause diarrhea while they are living on blood and tissue fluid of the dog.

Tapeworms are common to both dogs and cats. They can be carried by fleas, lice, rabbits, and mice. All four Types of parasites we have discussed can affect the health of dogs and cats. In some cases, especially with hookworms, they can cause death. You should have your adult pets checked by a veterinarian at least yearly for parasites. Puppies and kittens should be dewormed for the first time at four weeks of age.

To browse the articles click on a subject below:
Canine Psychology Puppy Vaccinations Internal Parasites Heartworms Pet Care Responsibilities Dangers of Antifreeze	Home Exam for Pets Feline Leukemia Dangers of Feeding Leftovers Housebreaking Your Pets Beef Cattle Health Recommendations Dairy Cattle Health Recommendations

Hartland Animal Hospital - 6425 S. Jackson Highway
Horse Cave, KY 42749