Pet Parasites

There has been a lot of concern in the media about the overuse of pesticides and insecticides on our pets and the environmental contamination in our lakes, ponds and waterways that this causes.

The effect this contamination has on our local wildlife (Pet flea treatments poisoning rivers across England, scientists find). So here at Goostrey Lane Vets, as well as the more conventional approach of regular routine flea and worm treatment, we can offer a more holistic approach based on your pet's individual risk and regular testing, only treating if there is an actual infection.

If you have any questions, please feel free to seek advice from our vets or nurses. We are here to help!

Roundworms are white, round-bodied worms, like spaghetti. They are white to light brown and are usually 5-10cm long.

These worms spend most of their life within the gut of dogs and cats, feeding on intestinal contents. There are two main roundworm species, Toxocara Canis and Toxocara Leonine.

Roundworms reproduce by laying eggs within the intestine. These eggs are passed out with faeces, mature for up to seven weeks, and become infectious. Pets then ingest these infectious eggs, which hatch into larvae.

Toxocara is zoonotic and can also infect humans via direct contact with contaminated stools and contaminated soil. They are usually harmless in adults but can affect children and immune-suppressed people. It can lead to eye, lung, heart, liver and neurological problems.

A roundworm infection, also called toxocariasis, can be picked up by a dog in one of four ways:

1. By eating infectious eggs in contaminated soil or faeces

2. By eating another infected animal, (i.e. mice, rats or birds etc.)

3. Puppies can get roundworms through their mother's milk

4. Puppies can be born infected if their mother is infected

There are options for treatments or prevention of roundworms, either tablets or spot-on preparations, either monthly or every 3 months.

A more holistic approach for those clients who prefer not to use regular doses of wormer is the alternative option of faecal testing, only treating if your dog actually has worms. We would require one 3-day pooled faecal sample for testing.

Tapeworms look like ribbons or pieces of tape or grains of rice.

They are divided into many small segments, up to 1cm each in length in dogs. Adult tapeworms live in the small intestine and attach to the lining with specialised mouthparts.

Here, they sit and absorb nutrients from the gut. Tapeworms reproduce when some of their segments break off. These segments are full of tapeworm eggs and are passed out in the faeces of your dog or cat. They are often described as looking like moving grains of rice.

The main tapeworms found in the UK are Dipylidium and Taenia, and Echinococcus.

Your pets can pick up tapeworms from several sources:

• Some species of tapeworm can migrate into muscle and form cysts. Pets may become infected by eating undercooked or raw meat from infected animals.

• Fleas can carry Dipylidium Caninum larvae. Dogs and cats can swallow infected fleas when grooming. This is a significant route of infection with Dipylidium Caninum for pets in the UK.

• From contact with infected pets or ground that has become infected with tapeworms via faeces, this can include sheep and cow faeces which carry Taenia tapeworms.

Tapeworms are also zoonotic and can infect humans. As Dipylidium tapeworms are transmitted by consuming an infected flea, the risk to human health is negligible. However, other species can infect humans, sources such as eating undercooked meat or accidentally ingesting soil.

Echinococcus Granulosus tapeworms are very small (2-3mm) and do not cause illness in dogs or cats. However, they can cause significant disease in humans and develop large Hydatid cysts within the organs.

Treatment and prevention of tapeworm infection in our pets is performed by regular worming in tablets or spot-on, usually every month or every 3 months. The control of flea populations is also an essential preventative measure to take.

For a more holistic approach for those clients who prefer not to use regular doses of wormer, there is the alternative option for faecal testing, only treating if your dog or cat has a tapeworm burden. We would require one 3-day pooled faecal sample.

Ticks are parasites with large biting jaws that attach to pets and humans and feed on their blood.

Ticks live on grass and other plants and crawl onto a host as they pass by. When they attach, they are generally minimal, just a few mm, but they grow rapidly to 1cm + once they latch on and start feeding.

The best way to check for ticks on your pet is looking and feeling for any unusual lumps and bumps, especially around the head, neck and ears. But as ticks can attach anywhere on the body, so a full search is essential.

Any lumps should be thoroughly inspected – ticks can be identified by the tiny legs at the skin level. If you aren't sure, we can offer a free nurse or vet check.

If you do find a tick, don't be tempted to just pull it off. Tick mouthpieces are buried in the skin, and pulling off a tick can leave these parts within the skin surface, leading to infections.

The main species of tick that affect our dogs and cats is Ixodes (sheep and hedgehog ticks).

Ticks can be found anywhere, but are typically located in long grass, rough upland and woodland areas – especially those damp and have high humidity. Areas known to have high populations are the Scottish highlands, moorland such as Exmoor and Wales, and the lake district. The southeast of England, being warmer, has a higher population of ticks. However, the spread of ticks means that they are now seen in urban areas, coastal environments, and most UK areas.

Ticks are most prevalent during spring and Autumn.

The significant risk of ticks is in the transmission of infectious diseases.

These include:

Lyme disease (Borreliosis)

This is the leading risk from tick bites in the UK for dogs and humans – in a study, 2.4% of ticks found on UK dogs carried Lyme disease. The clinical signs include recurrent lameness, lethargy and fever, but not the classic 'bullseye' skin lesion seen in people. In cats, the disease is asymptomatic. If left untreated, Lyme disease can also lead to more severe kidney disease and heart failure.

A rapid removal of attached ticks will help limit the spread – most ticks have to adhere for more than 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease. Ticks can bite humans too, and they can also spread Lyme disease, a severely debilitating disease if left untreated. It causes a classic red bull's eye lesion on the skin. Remember to check yourself for ticks if you visit a high-risk area, or your dog has been bitten by ticks.

Babesia Canis (Babesiosis)

Usually seen in dogs returning from Europe, Babesia has occasionally been diagnosed in some UK dogs that have not travelled, mainly in the southeast of England. It very rarely affects cats or humans. Babesiosis is caused by a tiny parasite (Protozoa) that lives inside red blood cells. Lethargy and anaemia are common signs, and affected dogs can die. These clinical signs are also associated with many other conditions. Hence, as babesiosis is rare, it may be difficult to diagnose quickly.

A rapid removal of attached ticks will help limit the risk of babesiosis – most ticks have to adhere for more than 24 hours to transmit the disease.

Anaplasma (Anaplasmosis)

Anaplasmosis is caused by a bacterium called Anaplasma Phagocyophilum. The disease also affects cats, humans, cattle, sheep and horses. Still, in dogs, anaplasmosis leads to fever, anorexia, joint pain and swelling. Occasionally, neurological signs may be seen.

A recent survey in the UK found that 0.74% of ticks were infected with anaplasmosis.

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial infection that affects white blood cells. It is scarce in the UK but is common in Europe, the USA and Africa, so travelling dogs are especially at risk. Ehrlichia does not affect cats or humans.

In dogs, the signs of ehrlichiosis can include fever, anorexia, weight loss, stiffness and prolonged bleeding. Dogs can appear to improve but may harbour a chronic form of infection without treatment.

The attached ticks can be removed using a tick remover, preferably within 24 hours. We offer free consults with a nurse for tick removal. We also sell tick removers in the surgery. You can prevent ticks from biting with either spot-on preparations or tablets.

For clients who don't wish to medicate their pets every month, we can offer free removal of ticks and risk-based treatment options, such as treating dogs travelling to or living in high-risk areas. But remember, no location or season is 100% safe.

Fleas are small, wingless insects. To survive, fleas must feast on warm blood, and they aren't fussy – most household pets can be bitten by fleas, as can humans.

There are two common species of flea, cat fleas and dog fleas. Fleas reproduce quickly and live most of their lives off their animal hosts, meaning they are an environmental problem:

1. A female flea needs to bite to be able to lay eggs. She can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are small and white, and while they are often laid on the host, they aren't attached in any way. This means as your pet moves around your home, the eggs will slide off and get buried into carpet fibres, cracks in the floor, soft furnishings and pet bedding. It is estimated that if you have fleas in your home, half of the population will currently be in egg form.

2. Eggs will hatch into flea larvae within twelve days. Larvae do not feed on blood and instead feed on organic debris in the home. They don't like the light, so they tend to burrow deeper into wherever they are. This means you rarely see them, although they actually make up about 35% of the flea population in your home.

3. After approximately 1-3 weeks, larvae will spin themselves into a cocoon and start to change into adult fleas. The developing larvae inside are now called pupae. Approximately 10% of the flea population in your home at any time will be pupae.

4. It is the pupae that make fleas so challenging to eradicate. In favourable conditions, pupae will hatch into adult fleas within days to weeks. Still, in unfavourable conditions, pupae can remain dormant in their cocoons for months! They are also sticky, so they are hard to remove with light vacuuming or sweeping.

5. When conditions are right, an adult flea will emerge. They must locate a new host quickly and feed to start the life cycle again and lay their eggs.

There are common signs of flea infestation in your dog or cat.

Your pets may be excessively itching, licking or biting at their skin. You may also be bitten, with small red lumps on your skin.

Flea dirt

Flea eggs are white and hard to spot, but flea dirt looks like tiny reddish-brown specks in the fur and can be mistaken for grains of soil. It is actually digested blood. The wet paper test is good to check if specks on your dog's coat are either soil or flea dirt. Get some damp paper towel or cotton wool and gently wipe up some of the specks. If the area around the speck turns reddish-brown, it's flea dirt.

Live fleas

You may be able to see live fleas in your dog's coat if you part the fur or stroke them backwards. Flea combs help detect live fleas. Fleas are very fast, though and can be challenging to spot. The base of the tail and on the tummy are good areas to look at.

Hair loss and sores

If your dog is itching a lot, they may damage their skin, leading to sores developing and hair loss. Flea allergic dermatitis is a common skin allergy of cats and dogs.

Anaemia

A flea infestation in young puppies and kittens can cause so much blood loss that they become anaemic. This can cause lethargy, lack of interest in food and pale gums. It's essential to check with your vet quickly if you suspect this.

Tapeworms

If your dog has a tapeworm, it may have come from an ingested flea. Tapeworms can survive inside fleas and get transmitted into your dog if they accidentally consume the flea when licking their coat.

Flea prevention and/or treatments is via monthly topical spot-on preparations or monthly or tri-monthly oral tablets.

For a more holistic approach, clients concerned about the excessive use of insecticides in their pets suggest a risk-based approach, i.e. does your dog go to doggy daycare or is your cat or dog going into a cattery or kennels. Remember, your pet doesn't need to meet another dog or cat; they catch the flea from the environment.

There is seasonality to your pet catching fleas, with summer being the primary time your pet is at risk, as the fleas need the suns heat to seek out hosts. In winter, the risk of catching fleas is much lower, but make sure your pet doesn't have fleas going into winter, as when we turn the heating on indoors, this can create a problem in your house.

We offer free flea checks with one of our nurses. We also advise regular weekly reviews with a flea comb.

Canine Lungworm is caused by the parasite Angiostrongylus Vasorum. Lungworm is increasingly recognised as a cause of illness, particularly cardiorespiratory signs.

Most dogs that have been infected show clinical signs. 70% present with a cough and 23% with dyspnoea (breathing issues).

Other symptoms include bleeding problems, neurological issues, weight loss, anorexia, and lethargy. It can also cause sudden death. Less than 7% of cases appear asymptomatic.

The lungworm parasite is distributed across the UK. However, prevalence varies widely; higher infection rates have been found in the southeast of England and southwest Wales. Dogs become infected by accidental ingestion of intermediate host slugs with grass or larvae in puddles and deliberately eating slugs. Foxes can act as a reservoir of infection.

The peak time of transmission is Autumn when slugs are most active. Winter has reduced transmission.

Lifestyle risk factors;

• Dogs who eat molluscs (particularly slugs)

• Grass eaters

• Coprophagia (dogs that eat stools),

• Outdoor drinking bowls and drinking from puddles

• Owners that feed wildlife

Fox prevalence

Foxes act as a reservoir of infection and help spread the distribution of Lungworm and contaminate slug populations in these areas, as their faeces can infect slugs (slugs feed on mammalian faeces).

Seasonality for slugs, especially small slug species as their distribution is controlled by temperature, humidity, and season. Treatment and/or prevention is achieved with topical administration of monthly Advocate or monthly Milbemax.

For a more holistic approach for clients concerned about the excessive administration of pesticides on their pets, IDEXX Laboratories now offers the Angio Detect blood test, a simple, quick blood test for in-clinic detection of Lungworm.