You probably know about the need for regular protective measures for your pets, but you may have some questions: what is it for, how to use anthelmintic tablets?
The fact is that there are diseases that are transmitted from animals to animals, from animals to humans, and even vice versa — from humans to animals. So, in order to protect yourself and your pet from some of the most common diseases, regular preventive treatments are necessary.
These treatments include:
— deworming — this is the release of the body from helminthic invasion or endoparasites (internal parasites);
— treatment from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes — the release and protection of the body from ectoparasites (all parasites living on the surface of the body and on the external organs of the animal).
Helminths (worms) are parasitic worms that inhabit other organisms (humans, animals, and even plants). Infection of the body with worm infestation is called helminthiasis.
The danger of helminth infections in domestic animals is not only that they cause great harm to the body of the animal itself, but can also very easily be transmitted to the host.
Most owners believe that their clean, well-kept animal can not be infected with helminthiasis, but this is a fallacy. Even the most domestic cat or dog is as susceptible to these diseases as an animal walking on the street. Infection with helminths can occur either directly by swallowing parasite eggs, or by eating their intermediate host (for example, fleas). And the eggs of worms and fleas can be very easily brought into the house on shoes, they can live in the land of domestic plants, enter the body with food, etc. Also, worms are easily transmitted from the untreated mother to her offspring.
Helminthiasis can occur unnoticed and asymptomatic, but this does not mean that these parasites do not cause any harm. The extent of their impact on the body is quite extensive. Their metabolic products are toxins that can cause poisoning of the body, allergies or exacerbate the manifestation of allergic reactions in animals prone to this.
Also, worms in the process of existence injure organs and tissues (for example, causing mechanical damage to the intestinal mucous layer, which can manifest itself as a chair with mucus and blood). Helminths can spread pathogenic bacteria that cause various diseases and, accordingly, weaken the body. And since the body is weakened, it becomes susceptible to many viral infections.
Types of worms in dogs and cats
In dogs, as in cats, there are three groups of worms:
- Nematodes (roundworms).
- Trematodes (flukes).
- Cestodes (chain).
Nematodoses — invasive diseases of dogs and cats, the causative agents of which are representatives of the class of roundworms (Nematoda), are called nematodoses. This type of worms parasitizes not only in the intestines, but also affects the heart, aorta, eyes, kidneys, bladder and hypoderm. The most common representatives of this group are ascarids, pinworms, whipworms, toxocaras, hookworms, trichinae, strongoloidosis, dirofilaria.
Trematodoses — helminthiasis, the causative agents of which are representatives of the class of flukes or trematodes (Trematoda). In animals, a large number of species of trematodes are known, each of which is characterized by structural features, life cycle, localization (habitat) and pathogenic influence on the carrier’s organism. Trematodes in dogs and cats are more often parasitic in the liver and intestines. The most common representatives of this group are fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis.
Cestodiasis — diseases in dogs that are caused by members of the class of tapeworms or cestodes (Cestoidea). They are commonly referred to as cestodosis. Mature cestodes parasitize in animals only in the intestines. The larval stages of cestodose pathogens can parasitize in various organs and tissues in both animals and humans. The most common representatives of this group are dipilidiosis, diphyllobothriasis, alveococcosis, teniasis, echinococcosis.