You most likely will be familiar with worms, and will know that your pet can get infected with them. You also might have gotten the advice from your vet to regularly deworm your pet. In this article, we will further explore which different common types of worms dogs and cats can get and how they can get infected. We will also look at what symptoms of an infection are, and what the treatment is.
Roundworm
One of the most common types of parasitic worm in pets is the roundworm. This parasite is often seen in kittens and puppies but older pets can also get infected. For dogs, the infection can happen already in the womb where the parasite is passed on from mother to pups, or shortly after the pups are born through the milk. For cats, infection in the womb does not occur, but passing the infection through the milk is possible. Adult dogs and cats can pick up an infection when coming into contact with faeces that are contaminated with worm eggs or larvae from other infected cats and dogs, by licking fur and paws that are contaminated, by drinking contaminated water , or by eating infected rodents.
Roundworms develop from eggs to full grown worms inside the intestine of your pet. Most pets show no symptoms when infected, though some may show symptoms like loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, couching, and weight loss, especially if the infection is severe. Roundworms are not always seen in stool, but if they are spotted they will look like spaghetti noodles. For pups and kittens a severe roundworm infection may show by having a full and round tummy. Roundworm infections in kittens and puppies can be dangerous if not treated in time and a heavy infection may result in death. Roundworms can be transferred to humans through ingestion of contaminated material.
Hookworm
Another commonly seen internal parasite is the hookworm. This parasitic worm is mostly seen in dogs, and less frequent in cats. A hookworm infection happens when the larvae penetrate the dog or cat’s (or humans) skin, when ingested through the mouth by contaminated material, or by eating an infected animal like a cockroach or rodent. In dogs, Hookworms can also be transferred through the milk. In cats, the infection does not transfer through milk. Hookworms, just like the roundworm, can be transferred from human to pet, pet to human, and pet to pet without an intermediary host. The hookworm will attach itself in the lining of the intestine and suck blood which in case of a severe infection can result in (severe) anemia, black stool, pale gums, and lethargy.
Whipworm
Whipworms are small and live in the large intestine. While pets that have a relatively mild infection might show no symptoms, pets that are severely infected may show symptoms such as watery and/or bloody diarrhea, dehydration, anemia and weight loss. Left untreated, a severe whipworm infection can eventually lead to death. Whipworms spread through ingestion of contaminated material with whipworm eggs, like food, water or flesh (mice etc). Whipworms are usually not seen in the pet’s stool, but in the case they are visible they will look like pieces of thread with an enlarged end. While Whipworm infections can happen in humans, picking up a whipworm infection from your pet is very rare as we generally don’t get infected with the same species of whipworms as our pets.
Tapeworm
Unlike the worms above that have a round body, the tapeworm is flat. They also can’t be directly transmitted from pet to pet or pet to human, but need an intermediary host. Transmission of this parasite happens when a dog or cat eats an infected flea/lice or prey animal like a bird or rodents. Symptoms are rarely seen, but if they do arise may present as digestive issues, dragging the but over the floor, and/or finding small rice grain like egg sacs around the tail or in the stool of your pet.
Heartworm
In the UAE, heartworm is not a problem as the intermediary host doesn’t survive the climate. But as there are many expats in the UAE, this is a parasite to keep in mind in case you and your pet relocate to a country where the host does survive ,or if you came from a country where the parasite is commonly seen.
Heartworm is spread through the bite of an infected specific species of mosquito. This mosquito will pick up the larvae of the heartworm when drinking blood from an infected animal and transfer this larvae to other animals it drinks from. These larvae will evolve in the animal to full grown worms where they will live in the heart and pulmonary arteries of the animal and create life-threatening damage if not treated in a timely manner. The larvae can also lead to kidney damage. Symptoms of a heartworm infection are lethargy, shortness of breath and coughing. There are preventive medicines available for heartworm. Heartworm is not directly contagious from pet to human, human to pet, or pet to pet, but needs an intermediary host (the mosquito) to infect.
Prevention of parasitic worms in pets and humans
Infection with most internal parasites can be prevented by keeping proper hygienic measures in place like washing hands and keeping living areas like the garden free from animal poop. As sandpits are often inviting for cats to poop in, make sure to cover them when not in use. Discourage children from eating dirt or putting their hands in their mouth without washing. Make sure to wash any raw vegetables well before consuming. For pets, keeping them free from lice and fleas will lower the risk of a tapeworm infection. Cats can be kept indoors, or with restricted yard access, to lower the chances of them picking up an infection. For dogs spots where dogs gather can be avoided. As most mild worm infections don’t give any symptoms, depending on the lifestyle of your pet, it might be worth considering putting them on a preventative deworming schedule, which can best be discussed with your veterinarian.
Treatment
Humans, and pets alike, that are infected with an internal parasite will need to be dewormed. Deworming will only kill the larvae and worms so a follow up dose (or doses) will need to be given to ensure that the eggs that hatch at a later time frame are also killed. Unlike medication against fleas which works for a certain amount of times, deworming only works shortly after giving the medication. To ensure proper use of the medicine, follow the instructions given in the leaflet of the mediation. Not all medication works against all types of worms, so a fecal examination might be needed at the vet to determine which type of medication your pet needs.
Conclusion
A few common parasitic worms in cats and dogs are the hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm, and heartworm. With the latter not being a direct problem in the UAE as the vector of this worm does not survive the climate. However, due to the fact that there are many expats in the UAE, definitely a worm to keep in mind in case of relocation. In many cases, a pet infected with a parasitic worm does not show symptoms, unless in the advanced stages of infection, which if left untreated can end up fatal. Infected pets will need to be dewormed with a medication that targets the specific parasite they are infected with.
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