Parasites, Viruses and Bacterial Infections in Brampton
Leptospirosis in Dogs
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of dogs and other mammals that primarily affects the liver or kidneys.
How are dogs infected?
Leptospira bacteria are carried mainly by rats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and other rodents, but can also be carried by any mammal, including people. Infected or recovered carrier dogs may act as a source of the infection. The most common form of transmission is the ingestion of infected urine or rodent-contaminated garbage. However, some forms of the bacteria can penetrate damaged or thin skin. This type of infection can occur when you dog swims in contaminated water. The incubation period – the time between the infection and the onset of clinical signs - is typically 4 – 12 days.
How do you prevent leptospirosis?
Routine vaccination program is the best choice for preventing it. The veterinarians at Bramalea Animal Hospital can discuss this with you to decide if your pet is at risk.
Risk to People
Dog owners should take caution as Leptospirosis can be transmitted to people. We advise that you avoid contact between your skin and the dog’s urine. When cleaning soiled areas, please be sure to wear rubber gloves. All areas where your dog has urinated must be disinfected. Please note that this organism can be killed through the use of household disinfectants or diluted bleach solution. Learn more about Canine Leptospirosis.
How are dogs infected?
Leptospira bacteria are carried mainly by rats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and other rodents, but can also be carried by any mammal, including people. Infected or recovered carrier dogs may act as a source of the infection. The most common form of transmission is the ingestion of infected urine or rodent-contaminated garbage. However, some forms of the bacteria can penetrate damaged or thin skin. This type of infection can occur when you dog swims in contaminated water. The incubation period – the time between the infection and the onset of clinical signs - is typically 4 – 12 days.
How do you prevent leptospirosis?
Routine vaccination program is the best choice for preventing it. The veterinarians at Bramalea Animal Hospital can discuss this with you to decide if your pet is at risk.
Risk to People
Dog owners should take caution as Leptospirosis can be transmitted to people. We advise that you avoid contact between your skin and the dog’s urine. When cleaning soiled areas, please be sure to wear rubber gloves. All areas where your dog has urinated must be disinfected. Please note that this organism can be killed through the use of household disinfectants or diluted bleach solution. Learn more about Canine Leptospirosis.
Lyme Disease in Dogs
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete, a type of bacterium that is transmitted to your dog through a tick’s bite. The disease-carrying organism, once in your pet’s bloodstream, is carried throughout the body and found commonly in joints. It was originally thought that only a few types of ticks could transmit the disease but studies have shown that many common species may also be carriers. The deer tick is the most common carrier.
Risk to People
Lyme disease does affect people but we cannot get it directly from dogs. We are infected in the same way, through the bite of a tick. Limiting exposure to ticks is essential for both you and your dog.
Preventing Lyme Disease in Your Dog
Limiting your pet’s exposure to ticks is the primary way to avoid this disease. Found in grassy, wooded and sandy locations, ticks can climb or drop onto your dog from a leaf, blade of grass or short tree, especially cedar. Keep your pets out of thick underbrush and on trails when in wooded or tall grassy areas to limit exposure.
How Do I Remove Ticks
We recommend checking your pet directly after visiting a potentially tick-infested area. The common deer tick is only about the size of a pinhead as a juvenile but is more visible as an adult, especially after feeding. If it is found moving around through your pet’s coat, it has not fed yet and should be removed immediately. Place it in rubbing alcohol or eliminate by crushing between hard surfaces. If the tick is attached to your dog, you can try to remove it yourself. We recommend bringing your pet to Bramalea Animal Hospital in Brampton, where our professionals can ensure the tick has been removed. It may be common for the head to be left embedded in your pet’s skin. We can also send the tick to a lab for testing to find out if it was a carrier for Lyme disease.
Protect Your Pet From Ticks and Fleas
Did you know that if your pet has fleas or your cat hunts mice they could also have tapeworms? Flea and tick protection can and should be started now. We have many products to protect your pet and your household from these pesky creatures. Many people already know that fleas can live in our households, but did you know, so can the brown dog tick? These ticks will live and reproduce in our houses just like fleas and typically need an exterminator to get rid of. Learn more about ticks and fleas
Prevent with Topical Medicines and Routine Checks
Topical preventatives and due vigilance in checking your pet’s skin will help prevent these pesky creatures from moving into your home. We have also seen an increase in deer ticks in the Brampton area. These ticks are the carriers of Lyme disease. If you notice a tick on yourself, a family member or pet, please use extreme caution when removing it or ask a professional to remove it for you. Many times the head can be left imbedded in the skin.
Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete, a type of bacterium that is transmitted to your dog through a tick’s bite. The disease-carrying organism, once in your pet’s bloodstream, is carried throughout the body and found commonly in joints. It was originally thought that only a few types of ticks could transmit the disease but studies have shown that many common species may also be carriers. The deer tick is the most common carrier.
Risk to People
Lyme disease does affect people but we cannot get it directly from dogs. We are infected in the same way, through the bite of a tick. Limiting exposure to ticks is essential for both you and your dog.
Preventing Lyme Disease in Your Dog
Limiting your pet’s exposure to ticks is the primary way to avoid this disease. Found in grassy, wooded and sandy locations, ticks can climb or drop onto your dog from a leaf, blade of grass or short tree, especially cedar. Keep your pets out of thick underbrush and on trails when in wooded or tall grassy areas to limit exposure.
How Do I Remove Ticks
We recommend checking your pet directly after visiting a potentially tick-infested area. The common deer tick is only about the size of a pinhead as a juvenile but is more visible as an adult, especially after feeding. If it is found moving around through your pet’s coat, it has not fed yet and should be removed immediately. Place it in rubbing alcohol or eliminate by crushing between hard surfaces. If the tick is attached to your dog, you can try to remove it yourself. We recommend bringing your pet to Bramalea Animal Hospital in Brampton, where our professionals can ensure the tick has been removed. It may be common for the head to be left embedded in your pet’s skin. We can also send the tick to a lab for testing to find out if it was a carrier for Lyme disease.
Protect Your Pet From Ticks and Fleas
Did you know that if your pet has fleas or your cat hunts mice they could also have tapeworms? Flea and tick protection can and should be started now. We have many products to protect your pet and your household from these pesky creatures. Many people already know that fleas can live in our households, but did you know, so can the brown dog tick? These ticks will live and reproduce in our houses just like fleas and typically need an exterminator to get rid of. Learn more about ticks and fleas
Prevent with Topical Medicines and Routine Checks
Topical preventatives and due vigilance in checking your pet’s skin will help prevent these pesky creatures from moving into your home. We have also seen an increase in deer ticks in the Brampton area. These ticks are the carriers of Lyme disease. If you notice a tick on yourself, a family member or pet, please use extreme caution when removing it or ask a professional to remove it for you. Many times the head can be left imbedded in the skin.
Tapeworms
What are Tapeworms?
Tapeworms are common intestinal parasites in dogs and cats. Classified as cestodes, they are in a different family from hookworms and roundworms – the other common intestinal parasites found in your pets. Tapeworms attach to the wall of the small intestine with hook-like mouth parts. In the adult parasite, segments from the body will break off and pass into the feces. Fleas are the hosts for dipylidium caninum tapeworms and necessary for the parasite to complete its life cycle. Your pet is infected by tapeworms through the ingestion of fleas. Tapeworms are common in environments infested with fleas. Lice have also been reported as a host for tapeworms.
How Do My Dogs and Cats Get Tapeworms?
The process starts when tapeworm eggs are ingested by flea larvae. This initial contact is facilitated by contaminated bedding or carpet. The flea larvae will then mature into adult fleas. Your pet may then chew or lick its skin in response to a bite and inadvertently swallow the flea. Following digestion, the tapeworm is released into the small intestine where it hatches and anchors to the intestinal lining.
Tapeworm Treatment
There are plenty of treatment options but be forewarned that not all options are equally effective. For treatment guidance concerning the de-worming preparation most suitable for your pet, you should speak with Bramalea Animal Hospital at 905-792-2200. If you believe your pet has tapeworms or are concerned about this parasite.
Flea control is the primary way to prevent tapeworm infections. Many flea control products are effective and easy to use. Keep in mind that if your dog or cat lives in a flea-infested area, tapeworm infection can be re-established in just a few weeks. This is rarely due to treatment failure. The reappearance of tapeworm segments indicates a re-infection of your pet.
Bramalea Animal Hospital recommends the following:
• Treat your pet promptly when tapeworms are detected
• Remove and dispose of pet feces properly – especially in public parks, yards or playgrounds
• Teach your children to practice strict hygiene procedures after playing outdoors
Taenia Classification of Tapeworms
Another common tapeworm is the group called Taenia. Your dog or cat may contract this tapeworm by attacking, killing or eating mice, birds or rabbits. Medications have been proven effective when eliminating this type of tapeworm. Re-infection can occur if your pet continues eating prey. Tapeworm segment may again be visible within 6 to 8 weeks.
Echinococcus Group of Tapeworms
Although less common, the echinococcus group of tapeworms is becoming more of a concern as a threat to human health. These parasites can cause serious, potentially fatal disease when humans are infected. Diagnosis can be difficult as the segments are harder to see. Trappers and hunters in the north central U.S. and south central Canada may be at increased risk, especially when strict hygiene is not practiced. Foxes, coyotes and wild rodents are essential in the lifestyle of this parasite. Your dogs and cats can contract the tapeworm when ingesting infected rodents. Humans are at risk when the eggs of this tapeworm are passed in the feces of your dog or cat. If you have free-roaming dogs and cats, periodic tapeworm medication may be needed. Proper hygiene and rodent control will also help prevent the spread of disease to you. Human infection is rare, but still possible.
My Child has Pinworms. Are They from My Cat?
No. Pinworms do not infect cats or dogs. Tapeworms and pinworms look very similar but any worm segments associated with cats are from tapeworms. Your child did not get the pinworms from your cat or dog.
Tapeworms are common intestinal parasites in dogs and cats. Classified as cestodes, they are in a different family from hookworms and roundworms – the other common intestinal parasites found in your pets. Tapeworms attach to the wall of the small intestine with hook-like mouth parts. In the adult parasite, segments from the body will break off and pass into the feces. Fleas are the hosts for dipylidium caninum tapeworms and necessary for the parasite to complete its life cycle. Your pet is infected by tapeworms through the ingestion of fleas. Tapeworms are common in environments infested with fleas. Lice have also been reported as a host for tapeworms.
How Do My Dogs and Cats Get Tapeworms?
The process starts when tapeworm eggs are ingested by flea larvae. This initial contact is facilitated by contaminated bedding or carpet. The flea larvae will then mature into adult fleas. Your pet may then chew or lick its skin in response to a bite and inadvertently swallow the flea. Following digestion, the tapeworm is released into the small intestine where it hatches and anchors to the intestinal lining.
Tapeworm Treatment
There are plenty of treatment options but be forewarned that not all options are equally effective. For treatment guidance concerning the de-worming preparation most suitable for your pet, you should speak with Bramalea Animal Hospital at 905-792-2200. If you believe your pet has tapeworms or are concerned about this parasite.
Flea control is the primary way to prevent tapeworm infections. Many flea control products are effective and easy to use. Keep in mind that if your dog or cat lives in a flea-infested area, tapeworm infection can be re-established in just a few weeks. This is rarely due to treatment failure. The reappearance of tapeworm segments indicates a re-infection of your pet.
Bramalea Animal Hospital recommends the following:
• Treat your pet promptly when tapeworms are detected
• Remove and dispose of pet feces properly – especially in public parks, yards or playgrounds
• Teach your children to practice strict hygiene procedures after playing outdoors
Taenia Classification of Tapeworms
Another common tapeworm is the group called Taenia. Your dog or cat may contract this tapeworm by attacking, killing or eating mice, birds or rabbits. Medications have been proven effective when eliminating this type of tapeworm. Re-infection can occur if your pet continues eating prey. Tapeworm segment may again be visible within 6 to 8 weeks.
Echinococcus Group of Tapeworms
Although less common, the echinococcus group of tapeworms is becoming more of a concern as a threat to human health. These parasites can cause serious, potentially fatal disease when humans are infected. Diagnosis can be difficult as the segments are harder to see. Trappers and hunters in the north central U.S. and south central Canada may be at increased risk, especially when strict hygiene is not practiced. Foxes, coyotes and wild rodents are essential in the lifestyle of this parasite. Your dogs and cats can contract the tapeworm when ingesting infected rodents. Humans are at risk when the eggs of this tapeworm are passed in the feces of your dog or cat. If you have free-roaming dogs and cats, periodic tapeworm medication may be needed. Proper hygiene and rodent control will also help prevent the spread of disease to you. Human infection is rare, but still possible.
My Child has Pinworms. Are They from My Cat?
No. Pinworms do not infect cats or dogs. Tapeworms and pinworms look very similar but any worm segments associated with cats are from tapeworms. Your child did not get the pinworms from your cat or dog.