In the past few months, I have been asked the same question multiple times while going over well care for both cats and dogs.
Is that really necessary?
It's one of those questions that you can't answer with just a simple "yes" or "no." The only well care we require for boarding, grooming or hospitalization are the core vaccines, bordetella, rabies and DHPP for dogs and rabies and FVRCP for cats. We do have other recommendations for well care (meaning to be done as preventative or early detection measures).
So in the next few blogs, I want to explain why we make the recommendations we do, and some of the common questions we get about them.
Is that really necessary?
It's one of those questions that you can't answer with just a simple "yes" or "no." The only well care we require for boarding, grooming or hospitalization are the core vaccines, bordetella, rabies and DHPP for dogs and rabies and FVRCP for cats. We do have other recommendations for well care (meaning to be done as preventative or early detection measures).
So in the next few blogs, I want to explain why we make the recommendations we do, and some of the common questions we get about them.
Fecal Test
This test uses a fresh sample of feces that we can collect at the clinic or you can bring a sample from home. We need to make sure it is a fresh sample, within 2 hours, otherwise put it in the fridge (I know that sounds gross) and get it to us within 12 hours. This test is sent off to our outside laboratory and it tests the fecal sample for internal parasites, including hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, giardia and coccidia.
Why? For all pets, internal parasites can cause blood loss, malnutrition, diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss and sometimes even death. In addition to the health concerns for your pet, there are health concerns for you and your family as well. The internal parasites are transmitted by accidental oral ingestion of parasite eggs, which means kisses on the mouth, petting your pet and then eating without washing hands, etc. Young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are at a greater risk.
Which pets are at a higher risk? All pets are at some risk. Cats that go outside and avid hunters are at a greater risk for internal parasites. Dogs who go to the dog park, hiking, camping and hunting are also at a greater risk.
What if my pet is indoor only? Even indoor only pets can get internal parasites. Certain parasite eggs can survive in soil for years, and all you have to do is step in the infected soil and bring it home on your shoes. Also, even if your pet is on a flea preventative, if they ingest just one flea they can get tapeworms.
If my pet isn't showing signs, why should I test? If you wait to perform a fecal test until your pet starts to exhibit signs (ie. diarrhea, vomiting or seeing segments in fecal matter), your pet will have been infested with internal parasites for a fair period of time. Roundworms can lay up to 100,000 eggs in one day and one hookworm can produce up to 20,000 eggs in a day. And by the time worms are visible, the parasites have already matured, laid more eggs and done the damage.
Plus, you may not even know your pet is infected with internal parasites because parasite eggs cannot be seen by the naked eye even if they are present in feces.
Why do a Fecal test if I deworm my pets? The broad spectrum dewormer that we use only kills hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. In addition to those internal parasites, the fecal test also tests for giardia and coccidia, which need a different type of medication to kill. Roundworms, which are another internal parasite tested for in the fecal test, needs two doses of the broad spectrum deworming, because the dewormer only kills the adults, so any eggs that have already been laid, need to be killed two weeks later after they hatch.
Why? For all pets, internal parasites can cause blood loss, malnutrition, diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss and sometimes even death. In addition to the health concerns for your pet, there are health concerns for you and your family as well. The internal parasites are transmitted by accidental oral ingestion of parasite eggs, which means kisses on the mouth, petting your pet and then eating without washing hands, etc. Young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are at a greater risk.
Which pets are at a higher risk? All pets are at some risk. Cats that go outside and avid hunters are at a greater risk for internal parasites. Dogs who go to the dog park, hiking, camping and hunting are also at a greater risk.
What if my pet is indoor only? Even indoor only pets can get internal parasites. Certain parasite eggs can survive in soil for years, and all you have to do is step in the infected soil and bring it home on your shoes. Also, even if your pet is on a flea preventative, if they ingest just one flea they can get tapeworms.
If my pet isn't showing signs, why should I test? If you wait to perform a fecal test until your pet starts to exhibit signs (ie. diarrhea, vomiting or seeing segments in fecal matter), your pet will have been infested with internal parasites for a fair period of time. Roundworms can lay up to 100,000 eggs in one day and one hookworm can produce up to 20,000 eggs in a day. And by the time worms are visible, the parasites have already matured, laid more eggs and done the damage.
Plus, you may not even know your pet is infected with internal parasites because parasite eggs cannot be seen by the naked eye even if they are present in feces.
Why do a Fecal test if I deworm my pets? The broad spectrum dewormer that we use only kills hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. In addition to those internal parasites, the fecal test also tests for giardia and coccidia, which need a different type of medication to kill. Roundworms, which are another internal parasite tested for in the fecal test, needs two doses of the broad spectrum deworming, because the dewormer only kills the adults, so any eggs that have already been laid, need to be killed two weeks later after they hatch.
Deworming
Drontal kills hookworms, adult roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms and is recommended for adults every 6 months for all pets, and every 3 months for avid hunters. For dogs on Sentinel, which in addition to being a heartworm preventative, also kills hookworms, whipworms and roundworms, we give Praziquantal, which just kills tapeworms, instead of Drontal.
Why not only deworm if the fecal test comes back positive? We recommend deworming in conjunction with fecal tests because one of the most common parasites, tapeworms, do not float well for fecal test, and even if the pet has visible tapeworms it may show up as negative on the Fecal results. This parasite is easily eradicated with the Praziquantal dewormer, however, which is why we deworm in conjunction with Fecal tests.
Why not only deworm if the fecal test comes back positive? We recommend deworming in conjunction with fecal tests because one of the most common parasites, tapeworms, do not float well for fecal test, and even if the pet has visible tapeworms it may show up as negative on the Fecal results. This parasite is easily eradicated with the Praziquantal dewormer, however, which is why we deworm in conjunction with Fecal tests.
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