Keeping Canine Parasites at Bay
House pets like dogs and cats are commonly affected with canine parasites. Even if a stool test shows that your pet is negative from internal parasites, it doesn’t follow that your pet is actually free from canine parasite.
There are different symptoms that can manifest once the infection took place, depending on the pet’s parasite load, duration of infestation, nutritional status and the pet’s age. The number one sign of internal parasitism is diarrhea. But if your pet is having poor appetite, coughs, abdominal distention and lethargy, then chances are that your dog or cat is already infected. The bad thing about this scenario is that once your pet has an infection, it becomes more susceptible to other diseases. And what’s worse, there is a possibility that you and the rest of your family can become infected, too.
So how do you keep your beloved pet from being infected by canine parasite? Effective treatments are readily available. Medications like anthelmintics are very effective and can treat more than one parasite. As a precautionary measure, have your pet examined for internal parasites once every six months. Some forms of parasites have intricate life cycles, which make treatment more difficult. And there are some that cannot be eliminated. In such cases, your pet must be checked regularly to determine whether your cat or dog needs long-term treatment.
Of course, there are some preventive measures that can be done. Keeping things clean is always the first defense in thwarting parasite attacks. Try to clean up your dogs as soon and as often as possible. Then wash your hands carefully (after cleaning your pet) with water soap and warm to avoid any possible parasite spread to other dogs or even humans. Kids are at risk because they like to cuddle their pets as much as they want to. So if you are suspecting that your pet is infected, then keep your child away from it.
These are just simple measure to avoid the onset of the infection. The key here is to be always vigilant for your pet’s and your family’s safety.
