Natural Pet Health

If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing. No matter what breed of cat you own, health problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.

Worms

No matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very common and recurring problem. Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairballs

Dog and puppies can get worms and parasites in so many ways. Luckily, most worms are species specific – meaning they can’t pass from a dog to humans or other types of pets. Very rarely, parasites can be passed from pet to owner, but routinely having the dog wormed can prevent most infections.

Your dog can easily catch worms, if your dog is playing with, sharing toys, or eating from the same dish as an infected dog. A very common source of infection can be the fecal matter from infected dogs, especially if the dog plays outside and is able to ingest it.

Roundworms

There are many different diseases and conditions that can cause canine diarrhea.� It isn’t a disease unto itself, but simply a symptom of an underlying problem.� If left untreated, diarrhea can lead to dehydration and eventually death.� Let’s take a look at some of the things that can cause it.

Food

Food is one of the main ways that your dog can develop diarrhea.� It can occur because of a sudden change in diet or just eating too much table food.� The good news is that diarrhea caused by food can usually be resolved within a day.� You simply have to allow your dog’s digestive system to settle down for a day by withholding food but giving plenty of water.

Worms

It all depends upon the kind of worm your pet has. There are generally five major worm types: roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms and heartworm. All of these worms can cause moderate to severe problems for your dog, and must be treated.

Let us look at the various types of parasites and what each one does.

The most common infestation is the roundworm. This parasite usually passes to puppies from their mothers either before birth or while she is breastfeeding. These worms can be passed to humans. In dogs, the roundworm causes weight loss and a potbellied appearance.

Several parasitic contagions can affect your cat. Although only a few cat worms can be healed at home, it is still urged that you take your cat to the veterinarian. In case of contact with infected cats, humans can also be affected by these infections.

The following are various types of cat worms:

* Tapeworms: Dipylidium Caninum is a common type of tapeworms in cats. Cats infested with fleas are very apt to get tapeworms. Once More cats that are involved in hunting wildlife with tapeworm is liable to be infested. Once the eggs are inside the cat’s intestine, they break down and mature into adult tapeworms. Then it attaches itself to the wall of the intestine and starts feeding on its nutrients. The tail section drops off and passes through the cat stool. These sections bear the eggs and looks like rice grains when dried.

Worms in dogs and cats are tenacious parasites and treatment can be frustrating. In spite of the treatment that you may adhere to for your pet, there is always an underlying risk of re-infection. This is due to the fact that worm larva and eggs can stay dormant in the tissues and intestines for a long time before maturing.

The above mentioned condition makes prevention a pertinent aspect of controlling worms in dogs. It is also important to note that some intestinal parasites can only be controlled and total eradication is not possible.

Prevention and treatment of worms depend upon the typical lifecycle of each type of worm. Dog tapeworm and cat tapeworm infest cats and dogs mainly when an infected flea or rodent is consumed. One species of roundworms need a foreign host to mature whereas others can infect cats directly. Some others can infect kittens through mother’s milk too.

A zoonosis is any disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. While pet owners may be well informed about certain zoonotic diseases such as rabies, their knowledge of other zoonotic risks such as roundworm and hookworm infection may be minimal.

Roundworms and hookworms of dogs and cats have the potential to cause disease in humans. Children may be more at risk of contamination because of their play habits and weak immune system. People can acquire hookworms and roundworms from pets by having contact with soil and sand contaminated by the feces of infected dogs and cats. Children may also inadvertently orally ingest contaminated dirt.

Unfortunately, dogs can develop worms quite early in life.� Here are some ways to prevent them in your dog.

1.� One of the major causes of tapeworms is attributed to fleas and lice.� Brush your dog regularly with a flea comb and keep a watchful eye for any odd behavior exhibited by your dog.� Dogs that ingest fleas, for example, can develop tapeworms.� Thus, it is necessary to determine whether or not your home or yard is infested with these parasites, which will require using a variety of methods to rid them from your premises.

2. Feces are another contributing factor in developing worms.� Ensure that all feces are picked up either in the back yard or, in the case of puppies, immediately after they eliminate in your home.

A dog can’t tell you when he is feeling sick.� Paying attention to his behavior and habits will give you a clear sign when something is wrong.� Here are some common canine illnesses and ways to avoid them.

Dogs can develop flea infestation.� While fleas do not embed themselves in a dog’s coat, they do feed off of the dog’s skin.� To avoid fleas from invading your dog’s body, avoid taking the dog for walks in wooded areas or places where fleas migrate.� Most fleas may accumulate in the grassy area of your back yard.� Daily brushing using a flea comb is recommended.

There are a variety of worms that cause illness in your dogs such as: heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms.� What causes worms in dogs?

Let’s take a closer look.

Hookworms are predominately found in dog feces.� If your dog eats these feces they can develop this condition.� Look for the following signs: loose stool or blood in the stool, the dog seems bloated, gas, has an unusual appetite, and his coat seems to be on the dull side.

Roundworms come from dogs ingesting the egg of the roundworm.� In puppies, they may become infected through the mother.� Signs that your dog has roundworm may be exhibited as follows: vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and an unusual appetite.