Elbow Dysplasia

Authored by: Dr. Greg Harasen

Elbow dysplasia in a dog

Elbow dysplasia is the most common cause of front limb lameness in the young dog, especially of the larger breeds. 

Dysplasia comes from the Greek dys, (abnormal) and plassein (to form).  Thus, dysplasia refers to abnormal development, in this case of the elbow joint.

The elbow is formed from the meeting of three bones:  the humerus, which is the boney support of the upper limb from the shoulder to the elbow; the ulna, which runs from the elbow to the paw along the back of the limb; and the radius, which supports the major weight-bearing along the front of the lower limb.  All three of these bones need to grow and develop normally and at the same rate such that they fit perfectly at the elbow.  If there are any abnormalities along these lines or if the cartilage lining the elbow joint does not form properly then “dysplasia” or abnormal formation is the result.

Elbow dysplasia can take several different forms.  Specifically, ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP), osteochondritis dessicans of the medial humeral condyle (OCD), ununited medial epicondyle (UME), and elbow incongruity all qualify as types of elbow dysplasia that can be present individually or in combination.  While all of the variations are distinct and probably develop in different ways, they have in common that they produce loose pieces of bone and/or cartilage within the joint that act as irritants much as a pebble does in your shoe!  All of these variations also have in common that they are primary problems that invariably lead to the secondary development of arthritis within the elbow.  The term “arthritis” simply describes inflammation within a joint.  The longer an elbow joint is ill-fitting or irregular, the more arthritis forms. 

While traumatic episodes may affect the development of the elbow joint, the vast majority of elbow dysplasia cases are genetic in origin.

Symptoms

The first sign of a problem is a mild to moderate front limb lameness in a young dog between the ages of 4 to 10 months.  If the problem is not diagnosed at this stage, more marked lameness may be noted as severe arthritis sets in.  Large breed dogs predominate in the following list of commonly affected breeds:

• Bearded Collie
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Chow Chow
• German Shepherd
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Newfoundland
• Rottweiler
• St. Bernard
• Bassett Hound

Diagnosis

The history of front limb lameness in a young, large breed dog is suggestive of elbow dysplasia.  Examination of the elbow may show pain, thickening or swelling, and restricted movement.  Radiographs of the elbow will usually confirm the diagnosis although FMCP and OCD might not be clearly demonstrated.  Even in these cases there are usually radiographic signs that suggest the diagnosis.  Advanced imaging studies, particularly computed tomography (CT), may also be helpful.  Ultimately, surgical exploration of the joint may be needed to provide a complete diagnosis.  In recent years, such exploration is most often done with an arthroscope, a camera that is inserted in the joint without the need of major open surgery.

Treatment

The use of an arthroscope provides the preferred means of diagnosis and treatment for many cases of elbow dysplasia.  Some cases may be managed with open joint surgery and still others may do well with medications alone such as anti-inflammatories.  Early surgical management of these problems provides the best chance for minimizing arthritic changes in these elbows, but it must be conceded that virtually all dysplastic elbows will develop some degree of arthritis.  Older dogs, where arthritis is well established, may still benefit to some degree from arthroscopic surgery but the benefits are less predictable.  The newest generation of canine anti-inflammatory drugs along with chondroprotectives such as glucosamine and diets high in omega-3 fatty acids can also provide some relief.  Elbow replacement is an exciting new treatment that has been developed in the last couple of years and, although not widely available, holds great promise for the future.

Date Published: 4/9/2007 10:49:00 AM

Canine Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a common condition of large breed dogs and many dog owners have heard of it but the fact is that anyone owning a large breed dog or considering a large breed dog as a pet should become familiar with this condition. The larger the dog, the more likely the development of this problem becomes, particularly as the dog ages. The following is a review of this disease. If you have additional questions, please send them through the Ask A Vet feature on the home page.

So What is Hip Dysplasia?

The term dysplasia means abnormal growth, thus hip dysplasia means abnormal growth or development of the hips. Hip dysplasia occurs during the growing phase of a puppy, usually a large breed puppy, and essentially refers to a poor fit of  the ball and socket nature of the hip. The normal hip consists of the femoral head (which is round like a ball and connects the femur to the pelvis), the acetabulum (the socket of the pelvis), and the fibrous joint capsule and lubricating fluid that make up the joint. The bones (femoral head and acetabulum) are coated with smooth cartilage so that motion is nearly frictionless and the bones glide smoothly across each other’s surface.

The femoral head (the ball in the ball and socket joint) is outlined in yellow. The acetabulum (the socket in the ball and socket joint) is outlined in red. The femoral head ball is designed to fit inside the acetabulum socket.

See more detail on the structures of the normal joint.

When a dog has hip dysplasia, the ball and socket do not fit smoothly. The socket is flattened and the ball is not held tightly in place, thus allowing for some slipping. This makes for an unstable joint and the body’s attempts to stabilize the joint only end up yielding arthritis.

normal hip – femoral head fits snugly inside acetabulum

early stage hip dysplasia – note space between femoral head and acetabulum

If this Disease Starts in Puppy hood Why are Most Affected Dogs Elderly?

Actually, there are two sets of patients typically affected by hip dysplasia. The first group is the adolescent dog, typically 6 to 18 months of age. The radiograph on the right shows the hips of such a patient. This dog has hip dysplasia but has not yet developed arthritis. Note the shallow hip sockets. This dog was brought to the vet’s office for signs of discomfort. Radiographs were taken and hip dysplasia was discovered. Many dogs with similar radiographs will not be in pain and thus will not end up coming to the vet for an evaluation. These dogs show up as elderly dogs, after they have been walking on their poorly formed hips for many years. After many years, bony build up along the margins of the socket, mineralization of the joint capsule, cartilage wear, and inflammatory change in the joint (i.e., degenerative arthritis) has become painful and now the dog comes to the vet for an evaluation.

bad hip dysplasia

Why Do Some Dogs Have Pain at a Young Age While Others Don’t Have Pain Until They’re Old?

Obviously different individuals may have different degrees of dysplasia. A dog’s weight makes a difference (a lighter dog can tolerate a more abnormal hip joint). The muscle mass supporting the joint is greater in a younger dog and helps reduce the stress directly on the bones. Still, some dogs have truly shocking radiographs and virtually no symptoms while others show relative subtle changes and are very uncomfortable. We don’t know why there isn’t a better correlation between radiographs and actual pain.

How Can an Owner Tell if their Dog is Having Discomfort?

Do not expect a dog with dysplasia (or any other chronically painful condition for that matter) to cry or whine in pain. Instead discomfort is shown with reduced activity, difficulty rising or lying down or going up stairs. A characteristic swivel of the hips is seen from behind and classically stairs are taken in a bunny hop fashion.

What Causes Hip Dysplasia?

The primary cause of hip dysplasia is genetic but inheritance of this trait is not as simple as a dominance/recessive relationship like we study in high school biology. Normal dogs can breed and yield dysplastic offspring as the condition may skip generations. Until a test based on the actual DNA can be developed, the best we can do to prevent this disease is to breed only dogs with normal hips (a challenge since often dogs are not apparently dysplastic until they have already started a breeding career.)

Nutritional factors are also important in the development of hip dysplasia. For example, it has been popular to try to nutritionally “push” a large breed puppy to grow faster or larger by providing extra protein, more calcium, or even just extra food. Practices such as these have been disastrous, leading to bones and muscle growing at different rates and creating assorted joint diseases of which hip dysplasia is one. One study showed that when puppies of hip dysplasia prone breeds were allowed to free feed, two thirds went on to develop hip dysplasia while only one third developed hip dysplasia when the same diet was fed in meals. Another study showed German Shepherds were nearly twice as likely to develop hip dysplasia if their adult weights were above average. Studies such as these have led to the development of puppy foods designed for large breed puppies, where the optimal nutritional plane is lower than for small breed puppies.

How Can I Find out if My Dog has Hip Dysplasia?

There are two reasons to pursue testing: to explain a dog’s discomfort/rear weakness or to screen a dog for breeding purposes. If a dog is not going to be bred and is not in any apparent discomfort, there may be no benefit to looking at the conformation of the bones in a radiograph except possibly to look back at a future time to get a sense for progression of bony changes.

The first step in diagnosis is an examination. Your veterinarian will likely extend the dog’s hind leg backward to check for pain. (Hip dysplasia causes pain on hip extension.) The dog may be asked to walk around to demonstrate the possible hip swivel. Another test involves having the dog lie on its back with a hind leg perpendicular to the body. As the leg is moved away from perpendicular to the body, a dysplastic hip will generate a pop as the femoral head slips to the center of the acetabulum. This pop, which can be felt if one’s hand is resting on the hip during the exercise, is called an Ortolani sign. You may hear this term used as hip dysplasia is discussed.

In a dog suffering hip dysplasia, femoral head has moved away from acetabulum

Ortalani sign: an audible pop is heard as the femoral head slips back to the center of the acetabulum

To find out for sure about dysplasia, radiographs are necessary and this generally involves some sort of sedation to minimize the patient’s discomfort as their hips are properly positioned for the picture. Sedation also helps the veterinary team control the dog’s position better so they can minimize the number of radiographs needed in order to get one good diagnostic view. The classical view is called a VD pelvic view where the dog is held on its back with its legs straight out. This shows the seating of the two femoral heads as well as any bony changes indicating arthritis. This is the view required by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for registration.

What is OFA Registration?

When purchasing a puppy, particularly one of a larger breed, often the parents will be listed as “OFA Good” or “OFA Excellent.” What this means is that the breeder has had the hips of the dog’s parents certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. The OFA is an organization with a goal of reducing the incidence of hip dysplasia (though now it is also possible to obtain certification for elbows, thyroid function, and other issues). The idea here is that a dog for breeding can have radiographs taken at age 24 months. The radiographs are sent to the OFA for review by several independent radiologists where they are graded. Hips that are rated as good or excellent receive a registration number.  Offspring of OFA-certified parents would be less likely to develop dysplasia themselves, however, it is important to realize that a dog with excellent hips at age 2 may not have such excellent hips at age 5, 7, or 10. OFA certification is no guarantee that a dog will not develop hip dysplasia symptoms in the future and does not guarantee that the offspring will not develop hip dysplasia.

What is PennHip Registration?

Many people with potential breeding dogs do not want to have to wait two years for OFA registration. The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Plan, developed by Dr. Gail Smith, allows for another way to predict if a dog will develop hip dysplasia. For PennHip certification, the veterinarian taking the radiographs must receive special training and special equipment is necessary. The pet is anesthetized and two radiographs are taken: one with the femoral heads compressed (pushed into the acetabula as far as they will go) and one with the femoral heads distracted (pulled out of the acetabula as far as they will go). A measurement called a distraction index is calculated from these radiographs,  the idea being that a tighter fitting hip (one allowing less distraction) is less likely to develop dysplasia. Each dog breed has a different range of distraction indices that are considered acceptable. Puppies can be certified as young as 16 weeks of age with this system.

view in distraction

view in compression

Is Surgery the Best Treatment for Hip Dysplasia?

There are many surgical options for hip dysplasia and it is important to understand which patients benefit from which surgery. Some surgical procedures are controversial and some are not. All will entail a recovery period as well as expense. Often both hips need not be treated surgically; treating one hip is often enough to yield good results. Hip surgery is expensive, usually $2000 to $3000 in the Los Angeles area. If you are considering surgery for your dog, these are the procedures to know about:

• Triple Pelvic Osteotomy
This surgery is appropriate for young (age 8-18 months) dogs with dysplasia but without degenerative arthritis changes. This means that there is a window of opportunity for this surgery and if the dog develops arthritis or becomes too old, it will be too late for this surgery to be performed. In this surgery the ill-fitting acetabulum is essentially sawed free of the rest of the pelvis, re-positioned for a tighter fit on the femoral head, and then plated back into place.

Three cuts are made to free the acetabulum from the pelvis

Many times surgery on one hip leads to positive changes in the other hip so that surgery on the second hip is not necessary. Alternatively it is possible to do the TPO on both hips if it seems clear that ultimately both will need surgical correction. This is a surgery that requires a board certified surgeon or a surgeon with extensive orthopedic experience. After care involves a good 3 to 4 months of exercise restriction. No leashed walks are allowed for 2 months except to go outside for elimination.

• Femoral Head/Neck Ostectomy
This surgery is commonly referred to as the “FHO” and is best used for smaller dogs (50 lbs or less) or very active dogs. Here, the femoral head is cut off and removed, allowing the joint to heal as a false joint (just a capsule connecting the two bones but no actual bone to bone contact. If the dog is not carrying too much weight, a false joint is strong enough. If the dog is very active, a false joint will form quickly. The pet typically does not want to use the leg for the first 2 weeks but should at least be partially using the leg after 4 to 6 weeks. The leg should be used nearly normally after a couple of months. Many veterinarians are well experienced with this surgery and often a specialist is not needed. This surgery is typically substantially less expensive than the other procedures.

femoral head before FHO

femoral head cut off after FHO

Total Hip Replacement
This procedure is for dogs with established degenerative hip changes. For these dogs, the best choice may be to simply replace the hip (or hips) with a prosthetic hip. This procedure may sound radical but it has been commonly performed for nearly 20 years in dogs with great success. This is a highly invasive procedure, obviously, and infection must be avoided at all costs (no skin disease can be present in the skin over the hips, extra precautions for sterility are used). In other words, when complications occur they have potential to be disastrous. Complications have about a 10% incidence. Expect about 3 months of exercise restriction after this procedure. Usually only one hip receives surgery at a time. Often only one replacement is needed and the pet does well enough not to need surgery on the other side.

x-ray of a bilateral (both hips) total hip replacement

• DARthroplasty

“DAR” stands for dorsal acetabular rim. In this procedure, bone grafts taken from other areas of the pelvis are used to build a longer rim on the acetabulum so that the femoral head will have a deeper socket in which to fit. This procedure is best done in dogs that are too old for triple pelvic osteotomy or have just started developing degenerative arthritis. This is a fairly new procedure in the hip dysplasia arena and thus somewhat controversial. Long term success (i.e., how patients do when they are old) is not really known as the procedure has not been performed long enough to collect results from a large number of patients. A specialist is needed for this surgery.

Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis

This surgery is performed on young puppies before age 5 months, so it is generally done as a preventive procedure before it is known if the puppy will indeed have dysplastic hips. The pubic symphysis is the cartilage seem connecting the right side of the pelvis to the left side. As an individual matures, this cartilage converts to bone and the two halves of the pelvis fuse permanently. This surgery prematurely seals the symphysis, which in turn results in rotation of the developing hip sockets into a more normal alignment. While studies show promise, because this procedure is done on puppies who do not yet actually have hip dysplasia, it is hard to evaluate success.

What Non-Surgical Treatment is Available?

Non-surgical treatment of hip dysplasia is essentially the same as non-surgical treatment for any other type of arthritis. There are nutritional supplements to help repair cartilage, pain medications, and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy and massage are also important and helpful in non-surgical joint therapy. For details see medications for degenerative arthritis.

Date Published: 2/21/2005 10:50:00 AM

The Importance of Dental Care for Pets

By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, About.com Guide

Winter Holiday Health Tips

The Holidays are a wonderful for get togethers with friends and family. They are also a fabulous time for your pet to get into trouble. By following the guidelines listed below, you may be able to limit your pet’s access to disaster.

1. Make sure that friends and family close gates and doors when they come to your home. This small act will help to ensure your pet does not wander off or be hit by a car.
2. Keep your pet out of reach of all the yummy food you will be serving. Some pets are particularly sensitive to fats, and even a cheese cube can be enough to put your pet over the edge for a gastrointestinal issue varying from diarrhea and vomiting to pancreatitis. Keep an eye on those super nice guests who try to get your pet into the holiday spirit by feeding treats under the table. We recommend that your pet enjoy the holidays with his regular pet food, and a properly sanctioned pet treat.
3. Be careful about your pet eating strings and ribbons off of packages and tinsel and decorations from the tree. We recommend cleaning up all wrappings as soon as they come off their packages. We do not recommend hanging loose tinsel from your tree; kitties in particular love to play with and then eat tinsel. As tinsel travels through the intestinal track it can become a source of irritation, and in the worst case scenario can bind up the intestines, which requires surgery to fix.
4. Common holiday plants to beware of are: mistletoe and poinsettia. These are toxic to pets.
5. Keep your pet out of the water container at the base of your Christmas tree as there can be additives in the water that are toxic to your pet.
6. Chocolate is toxic. The darker the chocolate the more toxic it is. Any ingestion of chocolate we recommend consulting with your veterinarian as soon as possible. As a precaution we recommend that you do not put presents with chocolate under the tree where they are easily accessible by your pet.
7. Antifreeze is toxic. If you catch you pet licking up antifreeze call your vet ASAP.

We here at Marin Pet Hospital hope you and your furry friends have a happy and safe Holiday Season.

What is halitosis?

Halitosis, also called bad breath, is as an offensive odor emanating from the oral cavity. Bad breath is a common presenting pet odor complaint. Common causes may be related to the mouth or, rarely, related to other health problems.

What causes halitosis?

The most common cause of halitosis is periodontal disease caused by plaque (bacteria). Bacteria is attracted to the tooth surface within hours of teeth cleaning. Within days, the plaque becomes mineralized producing calculus. As plaque ages and gingivitis develops into periodontitis (bone loss), bacteria changes from somewhat irritating strains to bone destroying types that produce hydrogen sulfide causing halitosis.

Other causes include eating malodorous food; metabolic disease (diabetes, uremia); respiratory disease (rhinitis, sinusitis, neoplasia); gastrointestinal (megaesophagus, neoplasia, foreign body); dermatologic (lip fold pyoderma); dietary (fetid foodstuffs, eating stool); non-periodontal oral disease (orthodontic, pharyngitis, tonsilitis, neoplasia); foreign bodies; trauma including electric cord injury; open fractures; caustic agents; infectious agents including bacteria, fungi, and viruses; autoimmune diseases; and eosinophilic granuloma complex.

What are the signs of halitosis?

Periodontal disease is painful. Some dogs and cats will have problems chewing hard food, others will paw at their mouths. Unfortunately most will not show any signs.

How is halitosis diagnosed?

Halitosis is easily diagnosed by smelling your dog or cats breath. If there is a disagreeable odor, halitosis is present. A veterinary examination is necessary to diagnose the specific cause of bad breath. If the diagnosis is not obvious after oral examination, blood tests will be taken to check for internal disease.

How is halitosis treated?

Halitosis treatment depends on the cause. There are four recognized stages of periodontal disease. The first two (early gingivitis and advanced gingivitis) are treated by professional teeth cleaning. As the disease advances bone loss occurs causing periodontitis, which may require surgery or tooth extraction.

Antibiotics may be used to destroy bacteria causing periodontal disease and halitosis. Often the antibiotics are used in a pulse therapy fashion (given the first 5 days of each month). Oral rinses containing chlorhexidine are helpful.

Odor neutralization of hydrogen sulfide occurs with the use of zinc citrate.

What is the prognosis for halitosis?

Once the underlying disease has been treated, halitosis will disappear. If due to periodontal disease, daily tooth brushing will help maintain good oral health and sweet breath.

Dr. Jan Bellows is a board-certified veterinary dentist. His office, Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic, is located at 17100 Royal Palm Boulevard in Weston, Florida. He can be reached for consultations at 954-349-5800.

Internal Parasites

Most internal parasites are worms and single-celled organisms that
can exist in the intestines of dogs or cats. The most common worms
are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Common
single-cell parasites are coccidia and Giardia.
What are roundworms and how are they spread?
Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite in dogs and
cats in the world. Animals with roundworms pass the infection to
other animals when the worm eggs develop into larvae and are
present in the animal’s feces (droppings). Your pet can pick up the
infection by eating infected soil, licking contaminated fur or paws,
or by drinking contaminated water.
Infected female dogs may pass the infection to their puppies before
birth or afterwards when they are nursing. Infected female cats
cannot infect their kittens before birth, but can pass on the infection
through their milk when kittens are nursing.
What are the health risks to pets and people?
What are hookworms and how are they spread?
Hookworms are the second most common intestinal parasites
found in dogs, but they are less commonly found in cats. Your pet
can become infected when larvae penetrate the animal’s skin or the
lining of the mouth. An infected female dog can pass the infection
to her puppies through her milk, but this does not occur in cats.
What are the health risks to pets and people?
Hookworms are dangerous parasites because they actually bite into
the intestinal lining of an animal and suck blood. As with roundworms,
puppies and kittens are at high risk of infection and developing severe
disease. Left untreated, hookworm infections can result in potentially
life-threatening blood loss, weakness, and malnutrition.
Like roundworms, hookworm infections are zoonotic, and infections
usually occur by accidentally eating the larvae or by the larvae
entering through the skin. In humans, hookworm infections cause
health problems when the larvae penetrate the skin. The larvae
produce severe itching and tunnel-like, red areas as they move
through the skin and, if accidentally eaten, can cause intestinal
problems.
What are whipworms and how are they spread?
These worms get their name from their whip-like shape. Animals
with whipworms pass the infection along to other animals when
the worm eggs develop into larvae and are passed in their feces
(droppings). Your pet can pick up the infection by eating infected
soil or licking their contaminated fur or paws.
What are the health risks to pets and people?
Like hookworms, whipworms bury their heads in the lining of an
animal’s intestine and suck blood, but they are generally less harmful
and usually do not cause health problems. Occasionally, severe
infections can develop and lead to diarrhea, weight loss, and blood
loss. Whipworm larvae rarely infect humans when they are accidentally
eaten.
What are tapeworms and how are they spread?
Tapeworms got their name because they are thin and flat, like
strips of tape. Unlike the smooth-bodied roundworms, hookworms,
and whipworms, tapeworms’ bodies are actually made up of joined
segments. Dogs and cats become infected with tapeworms when
they eat infected fleas or lice. They can also get certain types of
tapeworms by eating infected rodents.
What are the health risks to pets and people?
Tapeworms live in the small intestine and steal the nutrients from
the food your dog or cat eats. An infection is usually diagnosed
when the eggs sacs are seen under the pet’s tail or on its stool. These
sacs look like flattened grains of rice. While there are several
dewormers available that are effective against tapeworms, keeping
your pet free of fleas is the best preventative. Rarely are tapeworms
a risk to people.
How can I prevent/treat worm infections?
Puppies and kittens are the most prone to roundworm infection.
Because roundworms live in the small intestine, they steal the
nutrients from the food pets eat, which can lead to malnutrition
and intestinal problems. As the larvae move through a pet’s body,
young animals may develop serious respiratory problems such as
pneumonia.
Roundworm infections are zoonotic (pronounced zoe-oh-NOTick)
diseases, meaning that they are animal diseases that can be
transmitted to humans. While direct contact with infected dogs
and cats increases a person’s risk for roundworm infection, most
infections come from accidentally eating the worm larvae or from
larvae that enter through the skin. For example, children are at risk
for infection if they play in areas that may contain infected feces,
(such as dirt piles and sandboxes), where they pick up the larvae
on their hands.
Left untreated, roundworms in people can cause serious health
problems when the larvae enter organs and other tissues, resulting
in lung, brain, or liver damage. If the roundworm larva enters the
eyes, permanent, partial blindness can result.
Healthy pets may not show outward signs of a worm infection.
However, if you notice a change in your pet’s appetite or coat,
diarrhea, or excessive coughing, see your veterinarian. In most cases,
a simple fecal test can detect the presence of worm eggs or adults
and, if present, your veterinarian will recommend a deworming
program. A good way to prevent most worm infections is by using
one of several monthly heartworm preventatives available from
your veterinarian.
Nursing female dogs and cats and their litters are also major sources
for the spread of infective eggs and larvae. If you have a new puppy
or kitten, or a pregnant pet, consult with
your veterinarian about a deworming
program that will reduce your family’s risk
of infection.
Worm infections in humans can be easily
prevented by practicing good hygiene and
sanitation. Children should be discouraged
from eating dirt and should not be allowed
to play in areas that are soiled with pet feces.
Sandboxes should be covered when not
in use. Adults and children should always wash their hands after
handling soil and after contact with pets. Shoes should be worn
when outside to protect feet from larvae present in the environment,
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 – 4360
www.avma.org
Reprinted 4-09
Printed in the U.S.A.
and raw vegetables should be thoroughly washed because they may
contain parasites from infected soil.
Dog droppings should be immediately picked up from public areas
and from your yard to reduce the chances of contaminating the soil.
Keeping cats indoors is an effective way to limit their risk of exposure
to roundworms.
Other internal parasites
Coccidia
Coccidia (cok-SID-ee-ah) are single-celled parasites and are not
visible to the naked eye. Your pet can become infected by eating
infected soil or licking contaminated paws or fur. Once swallowed,
the parasites damage the lining of the intestine and your pet cannot
absorb nutrients from its food. Bloody, watery diarrhea may result,
and the animal may become dehydrated because it loses more
water in its stool than it can replace by drinking. Young pets are
most often infected because their immune systems may not yet
be strong enough to fight off the parasite. Coccidia can be very
contagious among young puppies and kittens, so households with
multiple pets should be especially careful to practice good hygiene
and sanitation.
A routine fecal test by a veterinarian will detect the presence of
coccidia. Treatment with medications will prevent the parasite
from multiplying and allow time for your pet’s immune system
to kill the parasites.
Giardia
Giardia (gee-AR-dee-ah) is also a single-celled parasite that, if
swallowed, damages the lining of the intestine and reduces the
absorption of nutrients from the food your pet eats. While most
Giardia infections do not cause illness, severe infections can lead
to diarrhea.
Giardia is harder to diagnose than other intestinal parasites, and
several stool samples may have to be tested before it is found. If
necessary, your veterinarian will recommend treatment with
medications to eliminate the infection. Because it is highly contagious
among animals, good hygiene and sanitation are important when
there are multiple pets in the household.
• See your veterinarian if your pet has diarrhea, weight loss,
increased scooting, a dull coat, or if you see worms under its tail,
in its bedding, or on its stool.
• Prompt treatment of internal parasites lessens your pet’s
discomfort, decreases the chances of intestinal damage, and
decreases the chance that your pet will infect humans or other
animals.
• Good hygiene and sanitation reduce the chances that your pet
will infect people or animals. You can help prevent the spread
of infection by always cleaning up your pet’s droppings immediately.
IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT INTERNAL PARASITES