DOG PARASITES
Parasites can affect dogs of all ages. Puppies, dogs with unknown medical histories, dogs exposed to other animals, and dogs with outdoor access may have increased exposure. Regular veterinary examinations, parasite testing, appropriate prevention, and good hygiene help protect dogs, other animals, and people.
FLEAS - External Parasites / Insects
What Is It
Fleas are small, blood-feeding external parasites that live on animals and in their environment. They can reproduce quickly and may be difficult to eliminate once they become established.
Signs & Symptoms
Scratching, excessive licking or chewing, hair loss, irritated skin, and flea dirt may occur. Some dogs develop significant allergic reactions to flea bites. Severe infestations can cause anemia, particularly in puppies.
How It Spreads
Fleas can move between animals, while flea eggs and immature stages can remain in bedding, carpets, furniture, yards, and other areas where animals spend time.
Why It Matters
Fleas cause itching and skin irritation and can contribute to flea allergy dermatitis and anemia. They can also transmit certain infections and tapeworms.
How to Prevent It
Use veterinarian-recommended flea prevention appropriate for the dog's age, weight, and health. When fleas are present, all pets and the environment may need to be addressed.
TICKS - External Parasites / Arachnids
What Is It
Ticks are small, blood-feeding external parasites that attach to animals and feed on their blood. They can transmit diseases and may remain attached for several days while feeding.
Signs & Symptoms
Ticks may appear as small dark, brown, gray, or swollen bumps attached to the dog's skin. Dogs may have no immediate symptoms, although irritation or redness can occur around the attachment site.
How It Spreads
Ticks attach to dogs when they encounter areas where ticks are present. They feed on blood and may remain attached for several days.
Why It Matters
Ticks can transmit numerous diseases to dogs and people. Dogs can also carry ticks into the home.
How to Prevent It
Use veterinarian-recommended tick prevention consistently and check dogs regularly, especially after outdoor activities. Keeping yards and living areas managed can also help reduce exposure.
EAR MITES - External Parasites / Mites
What Is It
Ear mites are tiny external parasites that live in the ear canals of animals and feed on skin debris and fluids. They can cause intense itching, irritation, inflammation, and a dark buildup in the ears.
Signs & Symptoms
Ear mites may cause intense itching, head shaking, frequent scratching, redness, and dark debris inside the ears. Secondary ear infections can develop.
How It Spreads
Ear mites spread primarily through close contact with an infected animal.
Why It Matters
Untreated ear mites can cause painful inflammation and secondary infections and can spread to other animals.
How to Prevent It
Have dogs examined when ear mites are suspected and follow veterinary treatment instructions. New animals should be evaluated when appropriate, particularly in multi-animal environments.
MITES - External Parasites / Microscopic Parasites
What Is It
Mites are tiny parasites that can live on or in the skin of animals. Different types of mites can cause itching, irritation, hair loss, inflammation, and other skin problems.
Signs & Symptoms
Common signs may include intense itching, scratching, redness, hair loss, scabs, crusting, irritated skin, and inflammation. The appearance and severity of symptoms can vary depending on the type of mite and the area of the body affected.
How It Spreads
Depending on the type of mite, they may spread through direct contact with an infected animal or through contact with contaminated bedding, grooming tools, or other items. Some types of mites are highly contagious, while others may occur when an animal's immune system or skin health is compromised.
Why It Matters
Mites can cause significant skin irritation and discomfort. If left untreated, excessive scratching can lead to wounds, hair loss, secondary skin infections, and worsening inflammation.
How to Prevent It
Regular veterinary examinations and appropriate parasite prevention can help reduce the risk of mite infestations. Avoiding contact with infected animals and keeping bedding, grooming supplies, and living areas clean can also help reduce the risk of transmission.
ROUNDWORMS - Internal Parasites / Intestinal Worms
What Is It
Roundworms are intestinal parasites that live in the digestive tract of animals. They are common in cats and dogs, especially puppies and kittens, and can cause digestive problems and poor growth.
Signs & Symptoms
Roundworms may cause diarrhea, vomiting, poor growth, weight loss, or a pot-bellied appearance. Some infected dogs may show no obvious symptoms.
How It Spreads
Dogs can become infected by swallowing parasite eggs or larvae from contaminated environments, eating infected prey, or through certain forms of transmission from their mother.
Why It Matters
Roundworms can interfere with a dog's health and development, particularly in puppies. Some roundworms can also infect people.
How to Prevent It
Use veterinarian-directed parasite control and fecal testing as recommended. Remove feces promptly, keep yards and living areas clean, and wash hands after handling animal waste.
HOOKWORMS - Internal Parasites / Intestinal Worms
What Is It
Hookworms are small intestinal parasites that attach to the lining of the digestive tract and feed on blood. They can cause blood loss, anemia, weakness, and other health problems, especially in young animals.
Signs & Symptoms
Hookworms can cause diarrhea, weight loss, weakness, pale gums, and anemia. Severe infections can be dangerous, particularly in puppies.
How It Spreads
Dogs may become infected by swallowing infective larvae, through larvae entering the skin, or by eating infected prey or other hosts.
Why It Matters
Hookworms feed on blood and can cause significant blood loss and anemia. They also have zoonotic potential and can infect people.
How to Prevent It
Use veterinarian-directed parasite prevention, have fecal testing performed as recommended, remove feces promptly, and maintain good hygiene. Prompt feces removal helps reduce environmental contamination.
TAPEWORMS - Internal Parasites / Intestinal Worms
What Is It
Tapeworms are flat, segmented intestinal parasites that live in the digestive tract of animals. They attach to the intestinal wall and absorb nutrients from the animal’s digestive system.
Signs & Symptoms
Tapeworm infections may cause few or no symptoms. Small, white, rice-like segments may sometimes be seen around the dog's anus, on bedding, or in fresh stool.
How It Spreads
Dogs commonly acquire certain tapeworms by swallowing infected fleas. Other tapeworm species may be acquired by eating infected prey or scavenged animals.
Why It Matters
Tapeworms live in the intestinal tract and may cause digestive irritation. Some species can also pose a risk to people.
How to Prevent It
Maintain effective flea prevention and discourage hunting, scavenging, and eating unknown animals. Veterinary evaluation and appropriate treatment should be provided when infection is suspected.
GIARDIA - Internal Parasites / Protozoa
What Is It
Giardia is a microscopic intestinal parasite that can live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs. It may cause diarrhea, digestive upset, and poor absorption of nutrients.
Signs & Symptoms
Giardia may cause diarrhea, soft or unusually foul-smelling stool, mucus in the stool, weight loss, or recurring digestive problems. Some dogs may carry Giardia without showing symptoms.
How It Spreads
Giardia spreads when dogs swallow microscopic cysts from contaminated feces, water, food, surfaces, or objects.
Why It Matters
Giardia can spread readily in multi-dog environments and may cause persistent or recurring diarrhea. Reinfection can occur when environmental contamination is not addressed.
How to Prevent It
Remove feces promptly, provide clean drinking water, maintain clean living areas, and follow veterinary treatment and environmental-cleaning instructions when Giardia is diagnosed.
COCCIDIA - Internal Parasites / Protozoa
What Is It
Coccidia are microscopic parasites that live in the intestinal tract of animals. They can cause intestinal irritation and diarrhea, especially in puppies, kittens, and other young or vulnerable animals.
Signs & Symptoms
Coccidia may cause diarrhea, dehydration, poor appetite, weight loss, and weakness. Puppies are particularly vulnerable to becoming seriously ill when diarrhea is severe.
How It Spreads
Dogs become infected by swallowing infective stages of the parasite from contaminated feces, soil, surfaces, water, or other environmental sources.
Why It Matters
Coccidia can spread quickly where multiple dogs are housed together. Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration and significant illness in puppies and vulnerable dogs.
How to Prevent It
Remove feces promptly, keep kennels and living areas clean, prevent overcrowding, and follow veterinary instructions for treatment and environmental sanitation.
WHIPWORMS - Internal Parasites / Intestinal Worms
What Is It
Whipworms are intestinal parasites that live in the large intestine of infected animals. They can cause irritation of the intestinal tract and may lead to diarrhea, weight loss, and other digestive problems.
Signs & Symptoms
Whipworms can cause diarrhea, mucus or blood in the stool, weight loss, poor body condition, and abdominal discomfort. Some dogs may have no obvious signs.
How It Spreads
Dogs become infected by swallowing mature whipworm eggs from contaminated soil or other contaminated environments. The eggs are highly resistant and can survive in the environment for long periods.
Why It Matters
Whipworm infections can cause persistent intestinal disease and can be difficult to eliminate from contaminated environments.
How to Prevent It
Remove feces promptly and maintain veterinarian-recommended parasite prevention and fecal testing. Avoid allowing dogs to consume contaminated soil or fecal material.
HEARTWORMS - Internal Parasites / Worms
What Is It
Heartworms are parasitic worms that live primarily in the heart and nearby blood vessels of infected animals. They can cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
Signs & Symptoms
Early heartworm disease may cause few noticeable signs. As disease progresses, dogs may develop coughing, exercise intolerance, fatigue, weight loss, difficulty breathing, or abdominal swelling.
How It Spreads
Heartworms are transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. A dog does not have to travel or live outdoors to be exposed.
Why It Matters
Heartworm disease can seriously damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels and can be fatal if left untreated.
How to Prevent It
Year-round heartworm prevention is recommended for dogs. Dogs should also receive routine heartworm testing as recommended by their veterinarian.
CAPC recommends year-round broad-spectrum parasite control for dogs and cats, including protection against heartworm, intestinal parasites, fleas, and ticks.
LUNGWORMS - Internal Parasites / Respiratory Worms
What Is It
Lungworms are parasitic worms that can live in the respiratory system of dogs, including the airways and lungs. They can cause respiratory irritation and breathing problems, with severity depending on the type and number of parasites present.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs may include coughing, wheezing, rapid or difficult breathing, nasal discharge, lethargy, weight loss, and decreased appetite. Some infected Dogs may show few or no obvious signs.
How It Spreads
Dogs can become infected by eating infected prey or other animals, such as rodents, birds, frogs, or reptiles, depending on the species of lungworm. Some types may also be acquired through infected slugs or snails.
Why It Matters
Lungworms can irritate the respiratory system and may cause coughing, breathing difficulties, inflammation, and other respiratory problems. Severe infections can become serious and require veterinary treatment.
How to Prevent It
Preventing Dogs from hunting or eating wildlife can reduce their risk of exposure. Regular veterinary examinations and appropriate parasite prevention can also help protect Dogs from certain types of lungworms.