Parasitic diseases characteristic of the spring period. Part 2

With the onset of spring, the likelihood of infection of pets with protozoa and worms, life forms that parasitize inside the host body, increases.

Giardiasis is an infection of many vertebrates

Not only the pet, but also its guardian can get sick. It is an infection with giardia, which parasitize the small intestine. Young animals are most often affected. The infection is transmitted by the fecal-oral route (with water, food, and feces).

Crowded conditions and weakened immunity contribute to the disease. In most cats and dogs, giardiasis is asymptomatic. However, clinically ill animals may show the following signs of giardia infection

• Diarrhea.
• Weight loss.
• Light, soft feces covered with mucus have an unpleasant odor.
• The animal does not allow you to touch the abdomen because of pain or discomfort.

To protect your pet from the disease, give it only purified drinking water, and make sure that it does not drink from puddles or outdoor containers while walking. Clean up after it thoroughly. Remove feces daily, and wash and treat surfaces contaminated with it.

It is better to bathe an infected animal with a special shampoo to get rid of protozoan cysts. Only an experienced veterinarian can detect giardiasis and prescribe a certified antiparasitic drug.

Helminthiasis is a common disease of parasitic worms

A pet can become infected with worms by eating raw meat or fish, drinking from a dirty puddle, or through a flea bite (these insects carry eggs of some helminths, such as the cucumber tapeworm).

There are many common varieties of helminths that can reach from 4 mm (pathogens of alveococcosis) to 1.5 m (hookworm) in length. They can parasitize the intestines, esophagus, lungs, liver, and bile duct. Some of them are deadly not only for animals but also for humans. So you need to be attentive to your pet's symptoms:

• Vomiting.
• Constipation or diarrhea, possibly with blood.
• Anal itching.
• Apathy, rapid fatigue.
• Loss of appetite.
• Coughing.
• Weight loss.
• Yellowish mucous membranes.

Certain signs are characteristic of many other ailments, so the owner should visit a veterinary clinic to verify the assumptions. Animal Clinic specialists will carry out a high-quality examination and successfully carry out deworming.