How do I know if my dog has parasites?
I have a five-year-old Jack
Russell. My dog goes to the vet twice a year and
has blood work done before I put her on
Revolution. Can the blood tests detect
parasites?

Jan
Whitby, Canada

Three classes of parasites are common in dogs and cats. Each class causes unique symptoms.

Skin parasites such as fleas and mites are very common. In some instances, fleas or flea feces may be present on infested pets. In many other cases the parasites are not detectable with the naked eye but may cause hair loss, scabs or red skin. Skin tests are used to detect skin parasites.

Blood parasites such as heartworm are common in many parts of the world. Blood parasites may cause heart problems, anemia, and immune system disorders. Blood tests are required to check for blood parasites.

Intestinal parasites comprise the third class of animal parasites. Intestinal worms and microscopic parasites such as Giardia and coccidia fall into this class. Intestinal parasites may cause diarrhea or vomiting, but many infested pets show no symptoms whatsoever. Microscopic evaluation of the stool is required to check for intestinal parasites.

No test for parasites is 100% accurate. Therefore, if you want to keep your pet free of parasites your best bet is to use a broad spectrum anti-parasite agent on a regular basis. Revolution is one such agent. If your dog receives Revolution each month, it is unlikely that she is infested with parasites. Advantage Multi is another effective broad spectrum anti-parasite agent. Interceptor and Heartgard Plus also prevent most parasite infestations when combined with a flea preventative such as Advantage, Frontline, Comfortis or Vectra 3D.

Some animal parasites can spread to people. Intestinal roundworms are the most dangerous. Broad spectrum anti-parasite medicines do not only help to keep your pet healthy. They also help protect the people in the house.

• When Should Kittens and Puppies be De-wormed?
• Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
• Is Heartworm Directly Contagious?
• How Bad Are Puppy and Kitten Mills?
• Why is my Cat Covered With Scabs?

How SAFE are vaccinations? Are we over
vaccinating our dogs?

Jade
Chicago, IL

Animal vaccination is a perennially timely and controversial subject. The short answer, Jade, is that nobody knows how often pets should receive vaccines. Nobody knows whether pets need vaccines every year (although they probably don’t).

Although titers probably will be widely used in the future, they aren’t common now for two reasons. First, nobody truly knows how to interpret them (that is to say, nobody knows what titer level is protective for each disease). Second, titers measure only half of the immune system (a portion called humoral immunity) and ignore the other half (called cell-mediated immunity).

I have covered the subject of animal vaccines a few times on this blog. Click here, here, here or here for more information.

A very bad experience from the other night reminded me of a stark truth. Although giving too many vaccines may cause health problems for some pets, giving too few vaccines is virtually guaranteed to lead to sick pets.

I was working at an emergency hospital when a family brought a six-month-old Poodle to my office. The Poodle had a 12 hour history of poor appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. He had never been vaccinated.

A test of his stool revealed that he was infected with parvovirus. Untreated parvovirus is a deadly disease. Parvovirus is preventable with vaccines. If that puppy had been properly vaccinated, he would not have caught the disease.

To make matters worse, the family had another unvaccinated puppy at home. I explained to them that their other puppy would almost certainly catch the disease. And then they revealed that, three months ago, the family had lost a third (unvaccinated) dog to parvo.

This means that, in the course of a single appointment, I became aware of two puppies who needlessly suffered from a preventable disease because of lack of vaccination. A third puppy is almost certain to become ill and possibly die because of the family’s irresponsibility.

Although over-vaccination is not an optimal scenario for pets, please remember that it is better than the other extreme. If you don’t vaccinate your pets at all, you are asking for them to get sick.

• How can I Know if my Pet has Parasites?
• When Should Kittens and Puppies be De-wormed?
• How Bad Are Puppy and Kitten Mills?
• How Can I Balance Puppy Socialization with Safety?
• Does Pet Food Cause Health Problems?

I have a seven-month-old Golden Retriever, Amber.
Every time someone tries to pet her when they
first see her Amber pees from excitement.
We are trying to socialize her and are frustrated
at her peeing for everyone. I guess it is from
excitement.

Jerry
Blanco, Texas

I will answer your last question first. Amber’s behavior is not exactly normal, but it definitely isn’t abnormal. It is very common, especially in puppies.

I suspect that Amber is engaging in a behavior called submissive urination.

When two dogs meet, they size each other up to determine each other’s status and level of dominance (this behavior is common in people as well). Dogs that are submissive sometimes release a small amount of urine during such encounters. This is a way of signaling that they aren’t a threat to a more dominant individual. It is especially common in puppies.

In other words, a submissive dog may urinate as a sign of respect. It is a dog’s way of saying that she doesn’t want any trouble.

Nonetheless, problems occur when dogs use this method of communication with humans. The dog is trying to show respect. The human usually is not impressed.

The problem usually can be addressed by asking guests and unfamiliar people to ignore the dog for the first few minutes after meeting. Once she has calmed down, the dog can be greeted in a calm manner.

Most dogs eventually outgrow submissive urination. If you are patient and persistent, the situation probably will resolve.

Please be aware that in rare instances bladder infections, urine chemical imbalances, hormonally-mediated incontinence and anatomical irregularities can lead to symptoms similar to those you describe. It might be a good idea to have Amber checked by a vet to rule out these conditions.

• How can I Know if my Pet has Parasites?
• Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
• When Should Kittens and Puppies be De-wormed?
• Do Damaged Toenails Require Treatment?
• Why is my Dog’s Tail Kinked?

Today is puppy mill awareness day. An article from September 17th’s USA Today reports that protests against puppy mills will take place across the nation. Here is a quote from the article:

Puppy mills — large, inhumanely run breeding operations that sell puppies to some pet stores and online — have for years been in the crosshairs of animal welfare groups. Breeding stock, they say, are kept in tiny cages, fed subsistence diets and given no medical care, exercise or socialization; then the animals are killed when they no longer produce large litters. The puppies, they say, are often sick when sold, or genetic issues soon emerge.

I have never visited a puppy mill, but reports (such as the one above) in the media are appalling.

As a veterinarian, I have the pleasure of working with plenty of puppies and kittens. In most cases, it is not possible to ascertain whether a young new pet has come from a puppy (or kitten) mill.

But I can say this. There is a big difference between pets that come from responsible breeders and those that don’t.

Responsible breeders take their actions seriously. They ensure that their dogs or cats are properly vaccinated and de-wormed before breeding. Vaccination before breeding helps protect the newborns from diseases such as canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia. De-worming reduces the likelihood that intestinal parasites will pass to the puppies or kittens through the placenta or mother’s milk (these worms can spread to human beings–especially children).

Responsible breeders test both parents for hereditary diseases such as hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand Disease and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) before they breed them.

Responsible breeders ensure that litters are evaluated by veterinarians, vaccinated appropriately, and treated for parasites prior to adoption. They work to start socializing young animals before they are adopted. Puppies and kittens aren’t separated from their mothers prematurely, nor are they transported long distances before they are confirmed to be in good health.

Animals that are bred responsibly are beloved pets. They are not bred when they are too young or too old. They are not bred too frequently. They are not bred accidentally. After retirement they are spayed or neutered, and they go on to lead pampered lives.

Responsible breeding makes a big difference. Puppies and kittens from responsible breeders are much less likely to suffer from diarrhea, intestinal parasites, respiratory infections and much more serious (and potentially life-threatening) conditions such as liver shunts.

If you want to adopt a purebred cat or dog I strongly recommend that you avoid anonymous breeders. Find a dedicated, responsible breeder. Get to know him or her.

Responsible breeders are proud of their animals. The ones I know will be as interested in meeting you as you are in meeting them–they want to make sure that their animals go into good homes.

• How can I Know if my Pet has Parasites?
• Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
• When Should Kittens and Puppies be De-wormed?
• Ear Cropping and Tail Docking Create Ethical Dilemmas for Vets
• Prevent a Trip to the Vet: Animal Fights

I have 5 kittens. They are 2 months old. I believe they have
worms. I have been told they are too young to give
anything. What can I give them that won’t hurt
them?

Cyndi
Dover, Arkansas

Due to a unique feature of intestinal worm life cycles, puppies and kittens almost always are infested with worms.

Intestinal worms (called roundworms) frequently reside as dormant larvae in adult cats and dogs. These larvae become active when a female becomes pregnant. The larvae migrate from the adult to the juveniles, either through the uterus and placenta (in dogs), or through mother’s milk (in both dogs and cats).

Therefore, it is safe to assume that virtually all puppies and kittens are infested with worms by the time they are a few weeks old. What’s more, some types of intestinal worms can spread from pets to people. The worms can cause serious illness in human beings.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), a group of animal parasite experts, recommends de-worming puppies and kittens every two weeks, beginning at two weeks of age for puppies and three weeks of age for kittens. Click here for the CAPC’s complete guidelines for roundworm removal in kittens and puppies (warning: the site contains technical language).

Eight-week-old kittens definitely are not too young to be de-wormed. Also, they need vaccines to prevent deadly diseases such as feline panleukopenia virus. I recommend that you take the litter to the vet as soon as possible for shots and de-worming.

• How can I Know if my Pet has Parasites?
• Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
• How Bad Are Puppy and Kitten Mills?
• Why Does my Puppy Urinate When she Greets People?
• Is Heartworm Directly Contagious?

My eight-month-old female English Mastiff has spots of
hair loss on several places on her body. Our vet
tested her for mites. She doesn’t have any.
Tested her thyroid, it’s normal. He thinks it
might be a food allergy to chicken and corn, so he
changed her food from [a major commercial brand
to a hypoallergenic formula]. I add a little
canned food to her dry food and also use the
canned food to make her treats. She doesn’t
scratch herself excessively. Do you think we’re
on the right track to resolve this problem? I
would appreciate any advice you can give us.

Betty
TX

Based on your description of the spots (multiple spots, not itchy or inflamed), my first guess would have been puppy mange (also known as demodectic mange) is to blame. I wrote a somewhat extensive article on the topic a while back. You can read it by clicking here.

The test for puppy mange (called skin scraping) is pretty reliable. Nonetheless, in rare instances the test does fail to detect the mites involved in the syndrome. So one thing I recommend is that you keep puppy mange in the back of your mind as a possibility.

Certainly allergies (to food, pollen, fleas, or other environmental stimuli) can cause hair loss. But they usually cause itching and red skin as well. Thyroid problems can cause hair loss, but they are extremely rare in young dogs.

In my opinion, you have a couple of choices. The most aggressive tactic would be to perform biopsies of the affected areas. Samples of affected skin can be removed and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Biopsies are highly likely to lead to a diagnosis.

However, I’m not sure it’s necessary to go that far. If the bald spots are small and aren’t causing any irritation, it may be reasonable to take a wait-and-see approach.

Consider your dog’s age. An eight-month-old Mastiff is roughly equivalent to a 13-year-old person. Many 13-year-olds have acne. The blemishes associated with acne occur because the immune system is not fully matured. At this age, the immune system has a habit of over-reacting to some problems and under-reacting to others. The result is acne.

Your dog does not have acne per se. However, there is a very good chance that her patchy baldness is related to her immature immune system. If you wait a few months, the problem may resolve as her immune system matures.

• What can I do About Intractable Puppy Mange?
• How can I Know if my Pet has Parasites?
• Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
• Why Does my Puppy Urinate When she Greets People?
• How Bad Are Puppy and Kitten Mills?

Hi,
We have a new Boston Terrier pup (9 weeks) who
tested positive for coccidia but has no symptoms
yet. Our vet has prescribed a 7 day course of
Albon. However, some other people have told me
that she needs a 28 day treatment regimen. Do you
think that this is necessary or should I just do
the 7 day treatment and follow up with the vet
next month (we see her for vaccines then)?
Also- could my cat catch this from my puppy?
Thanks!

Beth
Stoneham, MA

Coccidia are microscopic parasites that are incredibly common in puppies and kittens. Some animals can tolerate Coccidia infestations without showing any symptoms. Others develop diarrhea. In severely afflicted young pets, profuse diarrhea can lead to dehydration, failure to grow and severe illness.

Sadly, there is no perfect treatment for Coccidia. Albon is used to arrest the reproduction of the organisms within the intestinal tract. However, in the long run it is up to the pet’s immune system to tackle and eliminate the parasites.

Because every pet’s immune system is unique, some pets need to take Albon longer than others. I have known some puppies and kittens who had to take it for a month or more before they were cured. I have known others who cleared the parasite on their own, without any medication whatsoever.

Since your puppy isn’t showing symptoms, I think it is reasonable to start with a less aggressive treatment plan. It sounds like her immune system is already fighting the Coccidia. I’d recommend that you complete the seven day course of Albon. Have her stool tested after the medicine runs out. If parasites are still present, your vet can prescribe more medicine.

If your cat is an adult, it is extremely unlikely that the parasites will spread to her. Adult animals with fully-developed immune systems almost never contract Coccidia.

• How can I Know if my Pet has Parasites?
• When Should Kittens and Puppies be De-wormed?
• Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
• How Bad Are Puppy and Kitten Mills?
• Why Does my Puppy Urinate When she Greets People?

I have an eight-month-old Boxer and since she’s been
about two months, she’s had severe recurring mange.
It’s a cycle: she starts losing fur, we take her
in, get her diagnosed, she gets a mange bath,
antibiotics, she takes the meds for three weeks and is
fine! Her fur grows back, the meds stop then
another two or three weeks will go by and she gets it
again! We feed her high quality food, exercise her
regularly and keep her kennel very clean. Any
suggestions on how I can help take care of this
myself? The vet bills are mounting!

Katherine
Moreno Valley, CA

I am sorry to hear that you and your dog are going through such a frustrating ordeal. Based on your description of the problem and your dog’s age, it sounds like your dog is suffering from infestation with Demodex, also known as puppy mange.

Demodex is ubiquitous. It is a type of mite that is present in the hair follicles of virtually every dog. Most dogs suppress the mite with their immune systems. However, some dogs’ immune systems can’t keep the parasite completely under control. This happens most often in dogs less than 18 months of age–hence the name puppy mange.

In these dogs, hair may fall out in small patches, or it may fall out over large portions of the body. In either case, the problem can be persistent and frustrating.

The good news is that the vast majority of dogs outgrow the problem by the time they are two years old. The syndrome resolves as the immune system matures.

If your dog is losing only small amounts of hair and her skin is comfortable, you may not need to treat her at all. Many people simply monitor the spots and wait for the problem to resolve.

However, if your dog is losing large amounts of hair, she needs to be treated to prevent skin infections and secondary problems. Your best bet will be to have regular mange baths performed for a period of at least six to eight weeks. The most effective form of mange bath can only be performed at a veterinarian’s office, because the active ingredient in the shampoo is potentially toxic. I realize that this option is expensive, but in the long run you will save money if you tackle the problem aggressively.

Either way, take heart in one fact: your dog will almost certainly outgrow this problem eventually.

• Why do Young Dogs Develop Bald Spots?
• How can I Know if my Pet has Parasites?
• Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
• Why Does my Puppy Urinate When she Greets People?
• How Bad Are Puppy and Kitten Mills?