The most dangerous pet parasites
Are you worried about your pet’s health? Do you want to learn more about pet parasites? Then you’ve stumbled upon the right place.
As pet owners, it’s our responsibility to ensure our pet’s happiness and wellness. Pet parasites are a common occurrence, but in some cases, they could prove deathly to our dog or cat. It’s important to be informed so that you can take the necessary precautions or act in the first signs of trouble.
So to help you, I’ve summarized everything you need to know about the 5 most dangerous pet parasites.
#1 Heartworms
As the name suggests, heartworms are parasites that infect the heart of the host. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transfer the parasite’s larva into …show more content…
#2 Lungworms
After heartworms, one of the most dangerous pet parasites is lungworm. As you can guess, this parasite invades the lungs in cats and dogs and might cause severe health issues.
Dogs and cats can get infected with lungworms when they drink contaminated water or eat infected animals such as birds, snails or slugs.
Once the dog ingests the infected larva, it travels to the lungs via the bloodstream. When it matures, it lays eggs in the lungs or airways which cause obstruction and shortness of breath. Pneumonia, emphysema, building up of fluids in the lungs are all possible …show more content…
#3 Tapeworms
Tapeworms are long white worms that infect both cats and dogs. They have hook-like suckers, which they use to attach to the walls of the intestines. Once that happens they start to feed and grow. That’s why sometimes your dog or cat might be thin even if she is eating for two.
There are several types of tapeworms, but fleas carry the most common one. Usually, flea eats a tapeworm egg, and then the cat or the dog eats the flea and gets infected with the parasite.
Raise your pet’s tail when he is napping or after a nap and if you see white moving strips – that’s tapeworms, and you need to go to the vet.
Fortunately, it’s not easy for you to get infected with tapeworms unless you like eating fleas. However, dogs can carry one type of tapeworm called Echinococcus, which leads to the formation of cysts in the human body.
#4 Ringworms
The name ringworm is slightly misleading. Ringworms are not worms, but fungi. They cause lesions on the head, ear, or paws of the animal and bald spots that look red in the center. In severe cases, your dog or cat might lose most of its fur. But it’s also possible for the animal to carry the fungi and show no
Are you worried about your pet’s health? Do you want to learn more about pet parasites? Then you’ve stumbled upon the right place.
As pet owners, it’s our responsibility to ensure our pet’s happiness and wellness. Pet parasites are a common occurrence, but in some cases, they could prove deathly to our dog or cat. It’s important to be informed so that you can take the necessary precautions or act in the first signs of trouble.
So to help you, I’ve summarized everything you need to know about the 5 most dangerous pet parasites.
#1 Heartworms
As the name suggests, heartworms are parasites that infect the heart of the host. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transfer the parasite’s larva into …show more content…
#2 Lungworms
After heartworms, one of the most dangerous pet parasites is lungworm. As you can guess, this parasite invades the lungs in cats and dogs and might cause severe health issues.
Dogs and cats can get infected with lungworms when they drink contaminated water or eat infected animals such as birds, snails or slugs.
Once the dog ingests the infected larva, it travels to the lungs via the bloodstream. When it matures, it lays eggs in the lungs or airways which cause obstruction and shortness of breath. Pneumonia, emphysema, building up of fluids in the lungs are all possible …show more content…
#3 Tapeworms
Tapeworms are long white worms that infect both cats and dogs. They have hook-like suckers, which they use to attach to the walls of the intestines. Once that happens they start to feed and grow. That’s why sometimes your dog or cat might be thin even if she is eating for two.
There are several types of tapeworms, but fleas carry the most common one. Usually, flea eats a tapeworm egg, and then the cat or the dog eats the flea and gets infected with the parasite.
Raise your pet’s tail when he is napping or after a nap and if you see white moving strips – that’s tapeworms, and you need to go to the vet.
Fortunately, it’s not easy for you to get infected with tapeworms unless you like eating fleas. However, dogs can carry one type of tapeworm called Echinococcus, which leads to the formation of cysts in the human body.
#4 Ringworms
The name ringworm is slightly misleading. Ringworms are not worms, but fungi. They cause lesions on the head, ear, or paws of the animal and bald spots that look red in the center. In severe cases, your dog or cat might lose most of its fur. But it’s also possible for the animal to carry the fungi and show no