Clinic
Location
Location
17404 Penn Valley Drive Penn Valley, CA 95946
- Mon - Fri:9:00 am - 5:30 pm
- Sat - Sun:Closed
Emergency: MarQueen Pet Emergency & Specialty
9205 Sierra College Blvd #120, Roseville, CA 95661 916-757-6600
Just like their human owners, even the healthiest of pets can develop a range of illnesses and diseases. Parasite infestations, including worms, are one of the most common types of health problems likely to affect your pet at some point during their lifetime. Thankfully, veterinary medicine has evolved so that there is now a variety of different preventative treatments that can protect your pet from the serious and sometimes deadly effects of worms.
Worms are the name given to parasites that live mammals, including humans. They are parasitic because they There are many different types of worms, and while they look very similar, there are often a few differences between them. They can also affect your pet in a variety of ways, and what starts as a mild irritation may become a life-threatening condition without treatment.
One of the reasons that worm infestations are so common is because the worms are so prolific. In fact, just one worm can produce as many as 100,000 eggs each day. These are then passed out
While there are many different types of worm, we are going to explore just a few that are likely to pose a threat to your pet.
Roundworms are the most commonly diagnosed internal parasite in pets. They are also the most likely to be able to be transmitted to the human members of your family, where they can travel throughout your body, causing serious and even fatal infections.
Roundworms are long, thin and white and can normally be seen in feces and vomit.
Heartworms are an extremely dangerous variety of internal
Heartworms can only be contracted if an animal
Hookworms live inside your pet’s intestinal tract, attaching themselves to the lining of the wall and feeding on his blood. Eggs produced by hookworms pass through the digestive tract and out into his feces, where they can then infect passing animals. Hookworms don’t need to be ingested to be contracted, and they can actually develop through contact and penetration of the skin. Unfortunately, hookworms are another variety of worm that can affect humans, causing mild to extreme discomfort.
Hookworms are small, thin and usually less than an inch long. This means they may not always be visible to the naked eye.
Whatever type of worm infestation infects your pet, it will certainly create a number of unpleasant and debilitating symptoms, as well as posing considerable risk to their health. Some of the most problems experienced by infected pets include:
- Constant hunger
- Constipation
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Dry, flaky skin
- Dull coat
- Infections that persist even after treatment
- Lethargy
- Rubbing/dragging their rear end along the ground
- Skin problems
- Swollen limbs or belly
- Visibly underweight
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Worms visible in their feces or vomit
When it comes to parasite infestations, prevention is always better than cure. Worming is the best way of protecting your pet, and subsequently the other animals and humans in your home, from contracting any type of internal parasite.
Animals can usually be wormed from a very young age, and starting as soon as you are able to
Other preventative measures that you can take include scooping up your pet’s poop as soon as possible after it has been deposited, preventing your furbaby from scavenging and combining your pet’s worming treatment with flea prevention. This is because fleas carry some types of worm, including tapeworm.
Worming is an essential part of your pet’s care. If you have any questions, contact and speak to our veterinarian for further advice and to arrange your pet’s appointment.