You may have noticed when you call us to make an annual examination appointment that the receptionist reminded you to bring in a fecal sample. You may be wondering what our fascination with poop is. Well, it all has to do with the health of your pet, yourself and your family. We are encouraging all our clients to bring in a sample for testing. Why? Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms can become a serious problem for you and your family.

Worms are intestinal parasites that live off host organisms such as animals and humans. They are zoonotic which means they are animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms and giardia are some of the more common zoonotic intestinal parasites. They get their food from their host in the intestinal tract. Many of these parasites can cause life threatening issues in both pets and humans.

In young or debilitated animals parasite infection can lead to severe health issues such as vomiting, stunted growth, internal bleeding, anemia, diarrhea, dehydration, loss of appetite and even death. In mature, healthy pets they don't pose an immediate danger to the animal unless they get out of control. However these pets are passing them onto the environment and this is a risk to you, your family and other animals. In humans these parasites can travel to various tissues including the eyes and the brain and cause serious infections, including blindness or death.

Kittens and puppies commonly have intestinal parasites. They have been infected before birth by parasites crossing the placenta or just afterwards through nursing. Pets pick up parasites from the environment through fleas, feces of other animals, eating rodents, eating undercooked meat, eating infected soil or drinking infected water. The best way to keep parasites from being a problem is to be vigilant in sanitation, prevention (Interceptor, Sentinel or Heartgard for dogs and Revolution for cats), monitoring (fecal exams) and treatment.

We recommend treating puppies and kittens every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old with parasite control. At 16 weeks they should have a fecal examination to see if we have controlled the hookworm, roundworm, whipworm and tapeworm population. The exam also makes sure they don't have giardia or coccidia. The pet should then be on monthly, year-round control to prevent hookworms, roundworms and whipworms. In addition, if you have an especially good mouser or a flea issue you may want to consider periodic tapeworm treatment.

Other important steps:

• Use a pooper scooper immediately to prevent contamination of your yard.
• Have a fecal examination done at least yearly
• Feed animals prepared or cooked food- never raw.
• Provide fresh water daily- standing water is a favorite of giardia.
• Cover your child's sandbox when not in use.

Every 6-12 months a fecal smaple should be tested. This gives us a chance to make sure the preventatives are doing their job and to check if your pet has picked up any other intestinal parasites such as tapeworm, giardia or coccidia that aren't controlled by most parasite preventatives. By catching them before pets become symptomatic we can prevent bigger health problems and keep them from contaminating your family.

• Keep your pet on year round preventative.
• Have a fecal exam every 6-12 months.
• Teach your children to wash their hands after handling pets and to keep their hands out of their mouths.
• People with compromised or weakend immune systems should take special precautions.
• Don't walk barefoot in contaminate areas.
• Do wear gloves or wash hands immediately after working in the yerd.
• Don't let your pet drink form toilet bowls.
• Don't let your animal eat feces, raw meat or carcasses.

For specific guidelines go to www.capcvet.org or speak to your physician.

• What should I do if I think a member of my family has been exposed to/infected with an intestinal parasite? Contact your family member's physician for guidance immediately
• Do I have to worry about intestinal parasite in the winter? Yes, fleas carry tapeworm and can live in your house year round as can rodents. Other parasites overwinter outside just fine and can be brought into your house unwittingly by you, your family or your pet.
• If I don't see anything in their poop do I still have to worry about worms? Yes, mostly what is shed in the feces is microscopic. You would not be able to see it with the naked eye. Usually only special preperation of a sample and a microscope can definatively diagnose an infestation.
• Do I have to worry about worms with an indoor cat? Yes, your cat may not go out but you do. You can bring fleas and fecal matter into your house. Also, if even one mouse gets in and gets eaten you could have a parasite problem develop.

The last word-PREVENTION! Keeping your pets environment clean, using monthly, year-round prevention and controlling fleas is the best way to prevent and control intestinal parasites.

• For information on flea control please call us or go to our Fleas article.
• For more specifics on Intestinal Parasites visit our Intestinal Parasite article.
• For more information about Parasites check out www.capcvet.org, www.pets and parasites.org and www.growing up with pets.com.