Everything You Need To Know About Pets & Parasites (April 2023)
Spring has sprung! Time to think about the contents of your dog’s poop (delicious!) and to check your dog’s body for ticks, fleas and other parasites. Make sure to make it a habit to give your dog’s body a once over after any hiking excursion or time around grass (yes even just grass). Why is that so important? Because ticks transmit lyme disease in as little as 24 to 48hrs after attaching to your dog and as you will read below are found in Montreal and the surrounding areas!. Read more about the various host-symbiont relationships your dog can have below in our interview with Victoria Wagner, DVM, MSc Parasitology (that means this is her specialty!)
“Our pets can play host to a variety of different creepy crawlies. While some are harmless (albeit a little gross!), others can lead to serious illness – and some can even be passed on to humans! Thankfully, with guidance from your veterinarian and a few simple steps, you can significantly reduce your pets’ risk of catching these bugs – and bringing them home to the family!” [emphasis added]
Q: What parasites are most common? What are the diseases I should be worried about?
A: There are a number of different parasites to which your dog can be exposed. Some are internal and infect the intestines; these include roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms, while others, such as heartworm, target the heart and lungs. Other parasites are external, like fleas & ticks.
Puppies are very susceptible to getting sick from parasitic infections. Most puppies are born with intestinal parasites called roundworms, which can stunt their growth or cause them to fall ill; for this reason, it’s important that puppies are dewormed regularly as of a young age. Your veterinarian will prescribe a medication for deworming, and likely also recommend analyzing a stool sample from your pet.
Many different internal parasites that live in the gut (including roundworms and tapeworms) can be picked up by dogs of all ages through licking or ingesting parasite eggs found in feces, or by hunting & eating small prey (mice, rats, etc.). Others, like hookworms, can penetrate directly through the skin – usually the paws – to get into the body! These worms may cause gastrointestinal upset, among other symptoms. Heartworm, meanwhile, is transmitted by mosquito bites. This parasite can cause coughing, exercise intolerance, and weight loss, but most often, it goes unnoticed – until suddenly your pet gets very sick!
Finally, there are fleas and ticks. Fleas are not only a hassle to get rid of, but they can also transmit tapeworms to your pets. Ticks, meanwhile, are known to pass on a number of different diseases, including Lyme. And don’t be fooled; ticks are now in our very own backyards!” [emphasis added].
Q: Should I be worried about ticks even though my dog doesn’t go in the woods?
A: “Absolutely! Unfortunately, ticks – including the type that can carry Lyme disease – are now present even in the city of Montreal. The INSPQ (Institut national de santé publique du Québec) published an interactive map showing the risk of Lyme disease in different parts of Quebec, which you can access here:
Furthermore, ticks can be present nearly year-round – but especially from early spring through late fall – so we need to be vigilant even in cool weather.” [emphasis added]
Q: How do I protect my dog?
A: “The first step towards protecting your dog is talking to your veterinarian. Your vet will likely ask about your pet’s lifestyle, travel, and medical history. Medications prescribed by your veterinarian can protect against fleas & ticks, internal parasites (including heartworm), or both. Your dog should also be routinely checked for heartworm and intestinal parasites; this requires regular blood tests and stool samples. Your vet may also recommend certain vaccines (i.e. against Lyme disease) to offer extra protection for your dog.
Other ways to avoid parasitic infections include:
- preventing your dog from hunting & eating prey
- avoiding coprophagy (not letting your dog eat poo!)
- staying away from dog parks – which are a hotbed for contagious bugs of all kinds!
- promptly picking up and safely disposing of your dog’s waste (to avoid contamination of your yard)
- avoiding interactions between your pet and wildlife (raccoons, coyotes, etc.)
- keeping your dog inside at dusk and dawn (to protect them from mosquitoes and decrease the risk of catching heartworm).
When you frequent areas where ticks are especially present, always check your pet (and yourself!) for ticks when returning home – see this guide:
If you find a tick, remove it quickly and completely. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet for more instructions if you find a tick on your dog.”
Taken from CDC.gov
Q: At what time do I start giving my preventatives for ticks and fleas?
A: “As soon as the weather is above 0°C. Furthermore, slowly but surely, we’re moving towards needing year-round parasite prevention, much as they already use in warmer climates.” [emphasis added]
Q: What else do I need to know?
A: “Some parasites that infect our dogs can also be contagious to humans (or “zoonotic”)! For example, the tapeworm Echinococcus is zoonotic, present in Quebec, and can even be life-threatening! Making sure your dog receives adequate parasite prevention also helps keep you and your family safe and healthy.
Other steps to take to protect yourself against zoonotic parasites include proper hand-washing, not walking barefoot in outdoor areas where dogs may defecate (ex. the beach), washing raw fruits & vegetables well before eating them, and, if anyone in your home is immunosuppressed, speaking to your doctor and veterinarian about how to minimize risks in your household.
Overall, there’s lots to know about parasites and your dog. That said, with a bit of care and some guidance from your veterinarian, your pet can safely enjoy being outdoors!”
Tick 24-48hrs: https://www.waxhaw.providencevets.com/site/blog/2020/10/30/lyme-disease-dogs-symptoms-treatment-recovery
