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1. To examine common small animal parasites.2. To describe symptoms of external and internal parasites in small animals.3. To illustrate preventative methods and treatment options concerning parasites.*

Include the following:dogscatsrabbitsguinea pigshamstersbirds*

Include the following:coccidiosisroundwormshookwormswhipwormstapewormsheartworms*

Is caused by protozoans called coccidia which multiply in the intestinal tract of animalsCan be species specificIs excreted in feces and transmitted through the ingestion of either infected feces or intermediate hosts such as rats Affects young animals most frequentlyResults in intestinal lesions, impaired growth and loss of appetite

* protozoan predominantly single celled organisms housing a membrane bound nucleus and belonging to the kingdom Protistaintermediate hosts the host in which a parasite undergoes development but does not reach maturity

Include the following:diarrhea, often with blood or mucous presentvomitingloss of appetitedehydration*

Includes general husbandry such as removing all fecal materialInvolves maintaining food and water so it will not become contaminated with fecesProvide fresh water for animals at all times

*husbandry the careful management of domestic affairs or resources

Transmitted through nursing and contact with contaminated fecesTravel through the organs, get coughed up, swallowed and mature in the small intestines during the larval stageMigrate to internal tissues and lay dormant until the host becomes pregnant, then infect the developing fetusMay go unnoticed due to tendency of being asymptomatic

*asymptomatic showing no evidence of disease

Include the following:expanded abdomendiarrhea, may have roundworms presentvomiting, may have roundworms presentlethargyloss of appetite

*lethargy state of being drowsy, dull and unenergetic

Includes bottle feeding of newborn animalsInvolves treating pregnant and nursing animals along with their babies regularly with a de-wormerConsists of spraying the animals living area with diluted bleachRequires killing rats and mice as rodents are potential carriers

*de-wormer medicine used to cure an animal of worms

Requires regular administering of de-wormer Should be administered under the direction of a veterinarianCleans the infected animals systemCauses animals to excrete the roundworms, which should be immediately cleaned up as they could re-infect the animal*

Are blood sucking parasites residing in the small intestineAre transmitted by eating infected larvae which live in the environment and are passed through feces or by penetrating the skin and entering the blood streamCause death due to anemia and low protein levelsAct asymptomatically

*anemia a condition in which there is a deficiency of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying component of blood

Include the following:black, tarry diarrheadark stoollethargyanemiavomitingirritated skin where hookworms penetrated the body*

Requires the quick removal of fecesIncludes treating newborns biweekly for the first eight weeks and adults every monthInvolves testing animals with anemia or a history of hookworms at least once a year*

May require hospitalization or a blood transfusionInvolves placing animals on different kinds of medication, including heartworm preventative medication which has been proven to kill hookwormsRequires long term surveillance as the hookworms infiltrate the blood stream and may remain in the body after initial treatment*

Live in the cecum of animals and act as blood sucking parasitesInfect animals through the ingestion of whipworm eggs in soil and other items coming in contact with fecesBecome infective one month after the eggs are shedAct asymptomaticallyAre rarely seen in cats

*cecum a pouch where the small intestine and large intestine meet

Include the following:diarrhea, may include fresh bloodweight lossanemia*

Involves quickly removing fecesIncludes maintaining a long term plan of surveillance and treatmentIs difficult in animals previously infected due to high resistance of eggs which were laid in the environment, especially soil

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Is possible through various oral medicationsRequires administering medication at three week or three month intervals due to the life cycle of whipworms*

Are the most common internal parasite encounteredAre transmitted through intermediate hosts, usually fleas, who obtain the egg and then are eaten by another animalAre long and flat and attach to the animals intestinesAct asymptomatically and rarely cause serious disease *

Include the following:abdominal painhungermild weight lossworms in feces*

Involves maintaining a strict flea control programIncludes preventing the ingestion of rodentsRequires keeping animals from contact with intermediate hosts carrying tapeworm larvae

*Fun Fact:

Tapeworms in dogs can grow over 20 inches in length

Is possible through many medicationsIs normally treated with an injection to rid the infection within 24 hoursRids the animal of current infection but does not prevent future infections*

Are transmitted through feeding mosquitoes who deposit larvaeInhabit the heart and large vessels in the lungs when matureAre the most damaging parasites in dogs*

Include the following:coughingexercise intoleranceweight lossdifficulties breathingobstructed blood flow by dying worms*

Involves administering heartworm prevention medication Begins when animals are about six to eight weeks oldInvolves keeping animals indoors, but it is not enough alone for prevention*

Involves injecting the animal, usually dogs, with a poison to kill the heartwormIs usually not possible for cats since the medication may cause worse effects than the disease

*Fun Facts: Heartworms can live in dogs for up to seven years

Include the following:fleasticksearmitessarcoptic mangedemodectic mange*

Are small, wingless, bloodsucking insects acting as parasites on warm blooded animalsFeed on hosts, mate and then lay hundreds of eggsRepeat life cycle in three weeks under favorable conditionsCan go for two months without feeding *

Include the following:itchingpatches of hair lossred, irritated skinanemia occurs with large infestations *

Indoors includes frequent vacuuming and washing of materials where animals spend a lot of timeOutside includes spraying areas frequented by animals with insecticidesInvolves using flea control shampoo and collars*

Involves regularly following all preventative measures inside, outside and on an animalIncludes applying medication to the irritated portions of skin on an animal

*Fun Fact: Fleas can jump up to four feet high

Are small parasitic arachnids which feed on the blood of mammals, birds and reptilesCarry diseases which can be transmitted to animals and humansComplete life cycle by mating, engorge from feeding, then drop to the ground to lay eggs in the environment

*arachnids invertebrate animals characterized by four pairs of segmented legs and a body divided into two sectionsengorge fill to excess with fluid, such as blood

Include the following:red, irritated skin where ticks attachanemia in severe casescontracting Lyme disease disease characterized by fever, joint and muscle pain and weakness which can lead to heart and kidney problems in animalscontracting Rocky Mountain Spotted Feverdisease characterized by high fever, headache and joint pain*

In animals and humans involves staying away from wooded or grassy areas as well as leafy debrisIncludes using tick preventing medication and shampoo as well as regularly checking and promptly removing ticksPrevention of Lyme disease is available by administering a Lyme disease vaccine *

Requires the quick removal of any ticks found on an animalInvolves administering medication to the site of infection Includes using oral medication which combats the diseases they cause*

Is also known as scabiesIs caused by mites burrowing under the skinIs transmitted through direct contact with mites or another infected animal*

Include the following:severe itchingdry, wrinkled areas of skinhair losslethargycrusty sores*

Involves maintaining good hygiene and health of animals Requires keeping animals from freely roaming in grassy or woody areasIncludes limiting the contact animals have with each other as scabies is easily transmitted *

Can be accomplished through bathing infected animals weekly using anti-parasitic soapInvolves treatment with anti-parasitic medication and antibiotics if secondary infection has occurred due to scratchingCan be accomplished through ridding the house of mites which involves regular vacuuming and cleaning of areas animals inhabit*

Is caused by a parasitic mite called demodex living in the hair follicles and oil glands of animals skinIn adults is usually a sign of another disease compromising the immune system as most animals are able to suppress demodex *

Include the following:itchingred, irritated skinsmall areas of hair loss on face and front legsskin oozing serummay contract bacterial infection

*serum pale yellow liquid coming from the separation of blood into its liquid and solid forms

Consists of maintaining the overall health of animalsIncludes providing animals with a good diet and clean environmentInvolves supporting an animals immune system by vaccinating, sterilizing both the animal and its environment and practicing pest control*

Involves feeding oral medication daily for several weeksCan be difficult if the animal is excreting serum or an infection has occurred*

Live on the surface of the ear canal skinAre barely visible to the human eye and appear as little black specks resembling coffee groundsAre transmitted through social interactions between infected animals*

Include the following:scratching at the earears become red and inflamedcrust may appear on or around the earsabscesses around the ears

* abscess localized collection of pus in part of the body

Involves checking ears regularly as earmites reproduce rapidlyConsists of checking ears after animals interact with one anotherIncludes monitoring animals behavior to see if there is excess head shaking or ear scratching*

Includes applying medicinal oils or insecticides into the ear canalMay involve oral medication depending on severity of infestationIs continued for several days in order to break the life cycle*

The most common internal parasite is the roundwormflatwormtapewormwhipworm*

Whipworms live in the _______ of animals.liverkidneycecumsmall intestine

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What is an intermediate host?

What internal parasite is transmitted through feeding mosquitoes?*

5. What is the condition in which there is a deficiency of hemoglobin in blood?

6. What is the careful management of domestic affairs or resources called?*

Symptoms of hookworms include an expanded abdomen.truefalse

Sarcoptic mange is also known as scabies.truefalse*

Tapeworms can be transmitted through a mothers milk.truefalse

10. Demodectic mange may cause the excretion of serum.truefalse

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(1998-2006). Retrieved October 9, 2008, from Long Beach Animal Hospital: lbah.com(2005-2008). Retrieved October 9, 2008, from Companion Animal Parasite Council: www.petsandparasites.org(2008). Retrieved October 9, 2008, from Rural Area Veterinary Services: ruralareavet.org*

*Project Coordinator:Meghan BlanekProduction Manager:Dusty MooreExecutive Producers:Gordon Davis, Ph.D., Jeff LansdellProduction Coordinator:Brandon OQuinnGraphic Designer:Ann Adams MMIXCEV Multimedia, Ltd.

************************************************1. c2. c**3. The host in which a parasite undergoes development but does not reach maturity4. Heartworms5. Anemia6. Husbandry**7. False8. True9. False10. True*9. False10. True

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