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Controlling Intestinal Parasites

According to research by the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), the public's awareness about the dangers of parasites to their pet is low — and their knowledge of parasitic transfer from pet to human is even lower1.

Dangers of intestinal parasites

Parasites are dangerous to your dog's health

Intestinal parasites can be dangerous to your pets — both dogs and cats, as they can be passed from one to the other. Parasitic infection can cause the following:

  • Weight loss (or, in puppies, failure to thrive)
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Anemia
  • Blood loss
  • Inflammation of large intestine
  • Coughing
  • Death (especially in puppies less than a year old)2

In addition, CAPC recommends pet owners administer year-round preventive medicines that control internal and external parasites. Trifexis® (spinosad + milbemycin oxime) for dogs protects against all three of these dangerous parasites — as well as fleas and heartworm.

Parasites can also raise human health concerns 

A danger to your dog can also be a danger to you.

Intestinal parasites present a danger to your dog's health, and they can also be a danger to you. Some diseases, known as zoonotic diseases, can be transmitted from animals to humans. Anyone who comes in contact with fecal-contaminated soil is at risk. Anyone whose immune system is compromised can suffer severely from these opportunistic infections, including infants and the elderly.1

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers FAQs regarding the spread, treatment, and human symptoms of roundworm3, hookworm4, and whipworm5.

To minimize potential transmission to you or your dog, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends:

  • Picking up feces immediately whenever walking a dog in a public area; removing feces from the backyard environment at least weekly, preferably daily
  • Keeping dogs and cats under control; do not allow roaming
  • Practicing good personal hygiene when handling animal waste, particularly important for children and other individuals at increased risk.

CAPC logo

More information about intestinal parasites can be found on the Companion Animal Parasite Council’s website at www.petsandparasites.org.

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Avoiding Intestinal Parasites

  • Practice good personal/hand hygiene when handling pet waste.
  • Pick up feces on walks and at least weekly from your yard.
  • Prevent your dogs and cats from roaming.
  • Only feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat).
  • Visit your veterinarian for yearly testing and physical examination.
  • Use a parasite preventive year-round.

Avoiding Intestinal Parasites

  • Practice good personal/hand hygiene when handling pet waste.
  • Pick up feces on walks and at least weekly from your yard.
  • Prevent your dogs and cats from roaming.
  • Only feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat).
  • Visit your veterinarian for yearly testing and physical examination.
  • Use a parasite preventive year-round.
DVM and Staff Site

Important Safety Information

Serious adverse reactions have been reported following concomitant extra-label use of ivermectin with spinosad alone, one of the components of Trifexis chewable tablets.

Treatment with fewer than three monthly doses after the last exposure to mosquitoes may not provide complete heartworm prevention. Prior to administration of Trifexis, dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infection. Use with caution in breeding females. The safe use of Trifexis in breeding males has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with pre-existing epilepsy.

The most common adverse reactions reported were vomiting, depression/lethargy, itching, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. To ensure heartworm prevention, observe your dog for one hour after administration. If vomiting occurs within an hour of administration, redose with another full dose. Puppies less than 14 weeks of age may experience a higher rate of vomiting.

View full product label for complete safety information.

References

1. Companion Animal Parasite Council, http://capcvet.org/recommendations/index.html, retrieved March 14, 2011

2. Information summarized from the Companion Animal Parasite Council site: www.petsandparasites.org, retrieved March 14, 2011

3. Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/gen_info/faqs.html, retrieved March 14, 2011

4. Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/hookworm/gen_info/faqs.html, retrieved March 14, 2011

5. Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/whipworm/gen_info/faqs.html, retrieved March 14, 2011

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