Helminthiasis

The term helminthiasis unites a number of animal diseases caused by the presence of worms in the pet's body. Parasites cause significant damage to pets. Without qualified therapy, they lead to death. Many of them are dangerous for owners. For example, in Russia, 82 varieties of helminths are registered, 32 of them are transmitted from pets to people.

What is helminthiasis, causes of the disease in dogs, cats

Helminthoses provoke worms that parasitise in the body of the "host", where they penetrate from the external environment. An affected cat or dog excretes from several hundred to several hundred thousand helminth eggs daily. This explains the wide prevalence of diseases caused by them.

Depending on the biological structure, worms are divided into three main classes:

Nematodes (round). Become the cause of the development of such diseases as trichocephalosis, toxocarosis, ankylostomosis, toxascaridosis, uncinariasis;

trematodoses (suckers) - causative agents of opisthorchiasis;

cestodes (tapeworms) - causing dipylidiosis, teniasis, echinococcosis.

Helminths of different species may be present in the body of one animal. Most sexually mature individuals parasitise in the gastrointestinal tract of the pet. However, some types move through the circulatory system to other organs (lungs, liver, pancreas, heart, eyes, gallbladder and others), gradually destroying them.

The eggs of the parasite can enter the digestive tract of the animal:

by eating raw meat or fish;

through common care items (bowls, litter trays, bedding, etc.);

by sniffing the ground, grass, faeces;

from mother to offspring.

Mice, rats and flies are also carriers of helminths. Stray cats, dogs are much more often infected with worms than domestic ones. Even if the pet never goes outdoors, it is not immune to helminthiasis. Eggs can be brought home by owners on shoes.

Symptoms and diagnostic methods

Signs of the disease depend on the type of parasite. Some species for quite a long time do not manifest themselves in any way, others - affect the internal organs in a short period of time.

Alarming symptoms in helminthic diseases are:

blood or mucus in the faeces;

vomiting;

loss of interest in food;

increased nervousness;

deterioration of coat quality;

abdominal bloating;

itching in the anal area (the animal "rides" on the carpet, constantly licks the area under the tail);

fatigue, apathy;

diarrhoea alternating with constipation;

coughing;

sudden weight loss;

yellowing of mucous membranes;

abrupt change in taste preferences.

Attention: worms can not always be seen in the faeces. The absence of worms in the tray does not at all indicate the absence of infection.

Signs manifest themselves in different combinations, have different intensities. Mild infestation can proceed practically asymptomatic. With the increasing intoxication with the products of parasite activity, weakening of immunity due to lack of nutrients, the condition of the pet will worsen. Kittens, puppies, old, weakened individuals carry the disease most severely.

A veterinarian should be consulted at the first suspicion of an infestation before it leads to irreversible changes in the internal organs of the animal. It is not possible to make a diagnosis and choose the best treatment on your own. To do this, you need to bring the pet's faeces to the clinic to establish the type of parasite. If there is a possibility of joining the infection, a blood test will be required.

Treatment of the disease in pets

Therapy of helminthic diseases is to eliminate worms from the body. Modern anthelminthics refer to drugs of a wide spectrum of action, that is, effective against most worms.

Well-proven drugs from the company Apicenna:

Helmimax - used against 13 species of helminths;

Dirofen - effective against infestation with roundworms, tapeworms, as well as mixed infestations. Thanks to additional ingredients, accelerates cell regeneration of damaged intestinal mucosa;
Eprimek - does not cause resistance in worms. Authorised for use in lactating females;

Prazicid complex - in addition to eliminating helminths provides protection from external parasites (fleas, flea beetles and others) for up to 30 days.

The drugs are available in the form of:

tablets;

solutions for injection;

paste;

drops on the withers;

suspension.

The owner can choose a convenient form of the remedy. They can be used both for treatment and prevention of helminthiasis. The dosage, taking into account the weight, age, state of health of the dog is selected by the doctor.

For prophylactic purposes, the drugs are used once. From once a quarter, to once a month, depending on the degree of risk of infestation. The therapeutic course with a pronounced worm infestation is a double reception with an interval of 10 to 14 days. In the first time adults are destroyed, in the second time - larvae.

In neglected cases, in addition to antihelminthics, drugs for symptomatic treatment are required: saline solutions, stimulants, laxatives, haemostatic and others.

Owners should carefully observe their pets. Any disease is much easier to cure at an early stage, and even better to prevent. It is important to remember that helminths provoke allergic reactions, infectious, viral pathologies, intestinal blockage. Quality antihelminthics are safe. Poisoning usually occurs due to severe glystovaniya of the animal, and not due to the intake of drugs. In this case, it is necessary to make an appointment for an additional appointment, adjust the treatment course.