Parasite Prevention

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY!

Your furry bundle of cuteness is such a joy and can also be quite a handful! At Lake Pine Animal Hospital, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Our medical team and staff have put together these basics of puppy care to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best decisions for your pet and get your puppy off on the right paw.

Puppy Parasite Prevention

INTERNAL PARASITES are very common in puppies. They can become infected with some types of intestinal worms before they are born, later through their mother’s milk, or in the grass from fecal contamination or from contaminated water.

Intestinal parasites can cause weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, anemia, and itchy bottoms. Some of these parasites can also be zoonotic, which means they can infect people.

Because of this, we recommend deworming all puppies even if they do not have any signs. We will usually send home a dewormer at the first visit if the puppy has not already been given a treatment. During the course of the puppy visits, we will also perform at least two microscopic fecal examinations to look for the oocytes (eggs) from the parasites. Please plan on bringing a fecal sample with you to every puppy visit so the veterinarian can decide if we need to check it or intestinal parasites. Once they are adults, we recommend checking a fecal examination twice a year according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council guidelines.

HEARTWORMS are spread by mosquitos and is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs in the body. Testing is required annually to acquire Heartworm prevention.

At Lake Pine Animal Hospital, we strongly recommend that all dogs receive year-round heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention. We are happy to send home a complimentary sample of preventatives with your first visit. Then, we will send home a monthly dose at every visit until your puppy is fully grown. At that point, we will be happy to dispense a 6- or 12-month supply.

Fleas & Ticks

These external parasites are more than just annoying. Fleas can give your pet tapeworm, trigger allergies, and are of particular concern in puppies and kittens because if your young pet becomes infested, they can develop life-threatening anemia. Ticks are a problem because they can carry a variety of debilitating illnesses, including Lyme disease, which according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), is on the rise. Many of these diseases can also be transmitted to humans, which can put your whole family at risk.

While some topical treatments may immediately eradicate parasites on your pet, it can take several months to rid your house of fleas and ticks once they become established. There are now options for edible preventatives proven to work more effectively and are easy to administer.

Intestinal Worms

Intestinal parasites such as hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm are prevalent in puppies. Most intestinal parasites that infect dogs are zoonotic, which can be potentially spread to people. It’s estimated that 3 in 10 dogs under six months of age are shedding roundworm eggs at any given time, so it’s important to practice good hygiene in the home. This includes picking up dog waste in the yard and regular hand washing, especially if there are young children in the house. We recommend rechecking a fecal sample annually as adult dogs can become infected from their environment. Puppies should be dewormed every two weeks until they are about 12 weeks of age, and then two fecal samples that are negative are recommended for puppies.

Ear Mites

Ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal of dogs and cats. The most common sign of ear mite infection is violent and persistent scratching of the ears. Sometimes the ears will appear dirty because of a black, bad-smelling material in the ear canal. In dogs, ear infections with yeast or bacteria are the most common cause of a dark discharge in the ear canals. It is important that we examine your puppy to differentiate between infection and ear mites, which is why a vet exam is needed before we can dispense the right medication for your puppy.