Flea, Tick, Heartworm & Intestinal Parasites

Parasites are largely classified as external or internal. True to these classifications, external parasites "live" outside your pet's body, in their fur and skin, whereas internal parasites reside inside your pet's body. They depend on your pet as their "host." So, these organisms benefit from your pet, at the risk of your dog's or cat's health and comfort. Some of the most common external parasites we protect against, detect, treat, or manage include fleas, ticks, and mites. Likewise, we commonly partner with our clients/pet parents to prevent and control tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, heartworms, coccidia, and giardia.

They can not only affect your pet, but some may also adversely affect your human family's health and quality of life. Fleas, ticks, mites, and their ilk can result in intense itching and discomfort. Your pet may even be vulnerable to developing secondary infections due to damage to the skin from extreme scratching to relieve the itch. Some of these parasitic threats can spread severe diseases to other pets and humans and are associated with everything from Lyme disease and blood vessel damage to anemia and blood loss.

Tapeworms can enter your pet when they eat infected fleas or lice. As they work their way into your dog's/cat's GI tract, they may feed on and steal the vital nutrients needed for fuel and healthy function. Roundworms are a common parasite that can infect your pet when they consume contaminated feces or even just by rooting in the ground. They also deplete our pets of the nutrients they need and can affect your pet's digestion. More prevalent in our canine friends, hookworms work their way through our pets' skin and mouth. They can cause serious blood loss by sucking blood from the intestinal lining of their "host." Severe anemia is also a threat if your pet becomes infected by whipworms (often spread through other animals' waste). Your pet may also lack interest in food and have persistently watery stools. Coccidia can be passed easily from pet to pet via contaminated soils and fur. It is associated with intestinal damage among pets with weak immune systems. Giardia can also be spread easily, causing serious diarrhea and disrupting your pet's ability to absorb the nutrients in food. Of all the internal parasites, though, heartworms have a particularly notorious reputation.

Tapeworms can enter your pet when they eat infected fleas or lice. As they work their way into your dog's/cat's GI tract, they may feed on and steal the vital nutrients needed for fuel and healthy function. Roundworms are a common parasite that can infect your pet when they consume contaminated feces or even just by rooting in the ground. They also deplete our pets of the nutrients they need and can affect your pet's digestion. More prevalent in our canine friends, hookworms work their way through our pets' skin and mouth. They can cause serious blood loss by sucking blood from the intestinal lining of their "host." Severe anemia is also a threat if your pet becomes infected by whipworms (often spread through other animals' waste). Your pet may also lack interest in food and have persistently watery stools. Coccidia can be passed easily from pet to pet via contaminated soils and fur. It is associated with intestinal damage among pets with weak immune systems. Giardia can also be spread easily, causing serious diarrhea and disrupting your pet's ability to absorb the nutrients in food. Of all the internal parasites, though, heartworms have a particularly notorious reputation.

The good news is these infections and their resulting health effects are highly preventable. Upper Village Veterinary Hospital starts by getting your pet into a healthy routine of vaccinations as appropriate to their age, health, and other factors (such as "risk exposures"). Additionally, routine deworming, heartworm prevention and testing, and other preventives are an essential part of parasitic control. We rely on our advanced diagnostic tools to improve treatment and effectively manage any ongoing infections. Accurate diagnoses are typically based on testing a sample of your pet's stool and blood. As needed, we get symptomatic pets stable before moving forward with treatment that varies based on the nature of the infection. We treat pets promptly, safely (with minimal side effects), and in a way that prevents the spread of the disease to other pets, people, and households in our community.

Call us at (647) 560-9276 to schedule your pet's wellness visit in midtown Toronto, ON. Our team can review your pet's age, lifestyle, travel history, and exposure risks to recommend an appropriate parasite prevention and testing schedule.