sleeping creatures awake. Many of these creatures are very tiny and are
just waiting to hitch a ride on or in your pet’s body for a nice summer
vacation. Of course, we are reminding you about pet parasites. Now is the
time of year to start thinking about them and how you will best protect your
pet and your home against these little freeloaders.
There are three classes of parasites we have to address each year.
Those parasites that live on your pet are called ectoparasites. Those that
live inside your pet are called endoparasites. The endoparasites are broken
down into two groups; some actually live in the blood and some that live in
the intestinal tract.
Your veterinarian can help you detect or test for each type of
parasite. The parasites on the skin can be found during a physical exam.
The doctor may just comb through your pet thoroughly to find them, may swab the ears or may need to do what is called a skin scraping to find them. Intestinal parasites are detected by evaluating a stool sample for the worm eggs or the actual worm may be seen on the stool or around the anal area.
Parasites in the blood such as heartworm are found by testing a blood
sample.
Preventing parasites from hitching a ride on your pet and
into your home has never been easier. The veterinary products used today do a very thorough job of protecting your pet and are easy to use. The days of baths and dips and fogging your home are all but gone except in very extreme cases. Protecting your pet and preventing a big infestation can be as easy as a once a month tablet or pouring a few drops of liquid on the skin once a month. The important thing is to find a quality veterinary product and to follow through with your veterinarian’s instructions carefully to achieve maximum protection. Don’t be fooled by imitation discount products, as youare guaranteed to regret using them by August!
If you have questions, just call your veterinarian.
Elizabeth Bixby, DVM
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