{"id":1800,"date":"2025-04-14T17:55:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T21:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pourlamourdeschiens.com\/?p=1800"},"modified":"2026-02-02T09:44:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T14:44:05","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-potential-creepy-crawlies-lurking-inside-your-dog-parasites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pourlamourdeschiens.com\/index.php\/en\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-potential-creepy-crawlies-lurking-inside-your-dog-parasites\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about the potential creepy crawlies lurking inside your dog (parasites!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spring has sprung!  Time to think about the contents of your dog\u2019s poop (delicious!) and to check your dog\u2019s body for ticks, fleas and other parasites. Make sure to make it a habit to give your dog\u2019s 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!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur 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 \u2013 and some can even be passed on to humans<\/strong>! Thankfully, with guidance from your veterinarian and a few simple steps, you can significantly reduce your pets\u2019 risk of catching these bugs \u2013 and bringing them home to the family!\u201d [emphasis added]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What parasites are most common? What are the diseases I should be worried about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 <\/strong>\u2013 usually the paws \u2013 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 \u2013 until suddenly your pet gets very sick!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t be fooled; ticks are now in our very own backyards!<\/strong>\u201d [emphasis added].
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Should I be worried about ticks even though my dog doesn\u2019t go in the woods?<\/strong>
A: \u201cAbsolutely! Unfortunately, ticks \u2013 including the type that can carry Lyme disease \u2013 are now present even in the city of Montreal<\/strong>. The INSPQ (Institut national de sant\u00e9 publique du Qu\u00e9bec) published an interactive map showing the risk of Lyme disease in different parts of Quebec, which you can access here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n