Intestinal parasites are organisms that live inside of your pet's intestinal tract and leech nutrients from your dog. These organisms range from microscopic in size to inches long and may be a mild nuisance or a serious health concern. The major concern with a dog that is suffering from intestinal parasites is that those parasites are taking up nutrients and important elements of the dog's food that he eats. This can ultimately leave the pet malnourished and bring about a wide variety of other health problems as well. Read on for an overview of the symptoms of intestinal parasites, as well as the successful diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Symptoms of Intestinal Parasites
There are many types of intestinal parasites, ranging from microscopic organisms to worms that attach to various parts of your pet's intestinal tract. As such, there are oftentimes a variety of different symptoms associated with these infestations. In order to best be aware of your pet's health and to better protect him from potentially harmful intestinal parasites, it's important that you be aware of all of the symptoms associated with these conditions.
- Signs of nausea, including vomiting and diarrhea
- Increased appetite
- Weight loss
- Change in stool color, consistency, or frequency
- Appearance of worms or eggs in the stool
- Anemia
- Skin lesions or abscesses
If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to take note of them and to bring your pet in to the vet for immediate analysis and treatment. The longer that you allow the intestinal parasites to live within your pet's body, the more damage they can cause to him.
Diagnosing and Treating Intestinal Parasites
Parasite infestation can easily be confused with other conditions. Therefore, your pet will need to begin by conducting a full medical history and physical examination of your pet. He will continue with a stool sample and potentially a urine test as well. With the stool sample, the feces will be examined for signs of parasite eggs and carcasses. Additionally, a blood test may be helpful in determining the nature of the condition as well, particularly if your pet is suffering from anemia as a symptom of his infestation.
As a preventative measure, nearly every vet will recommend regularly providing a deworming medicine to puppies under two years of age. This helps to treat worms that they may encounter and which can cause them great harm. These same medicines can be used to flush parasites out of the systems of older dogs as well. Generally, it's recommended that you have your pet's stool examined for traces of parasites approximately once per year after he is two years of age. If your pet has suffered from dehydration or malnourishment as a result of his parasites, fluid and electrolyte therapy can also help to restore stability in his system while the parasites are flushed with other medicines.
Ask your vet for additional information about intestinal parasite infestations in your pet.