Toxocaroses in pets

Toxocaroses are parasitic diseases caused by helminths of the genus Toxocara. Not only dogs and cats are affected, but also humans!

Toxocaroses in dogs

Canine toxocara is a round helminth. The size of adult parasites reaches 7-18 centimetres, which is not small. The egg size is 80 microns by 75 microns. Toxocaras are found in the stomach and small intestine of the dog. Dogs are infected very often, especially at a young age. The life expectancy of sexually mature individuals of canine toxocara is four to six months. The female parasite lays hundreds of thousands of eggs per day. For example, one gram of dog faeces can contain 10-15 thousand eggs, and all this amount gets into the soil.

How does infection occur?

The life cycle of toxocaras is complex. It involves a definitive and an intermediate host. The puppy becomes the definitive host and can infect others around it. Helminthic diseases are ubiquitous and are found on different continents of our planet. In the wild, dogs get sick by eating the meat of foxes, moles, mice and rats.  In the city, the animal picks up helminths in places of walking.

Symptoms of toxocarosis:

stunted growth and development;

diarrhoea;

vomiting;

loss of appetite;

abdominal bloating;

nervous manifestations: puppies whine, bite, bark without reason;

sudden weight loss.

Often with vomiting, dogs vomit helminths. In blood tests, you can observe: a decrease in the number of red blood cells, haemoglobin, leukocytes and eosinophils increase. In adult dogs, the symptoms are somewhat smoothed out, and they are not as often sick with toxocarosis as young animals.

Toxocaroses in cats

Feline toxocara is a round helminth. Adult parasites range in size from 4-20 centimetres and are found in the small intestine, with egg dimensions of 75 microns by 65 microns. 

Both domestic cats and wild cats are susceptible to the disease. The disease can be found everywhere, especially in populated areas with a large number of stray cats. The life cycle of feline toxocara is complex. It involves a definitive and an intermediate host. Cats are the definitive hosts. In a day, female feline toxocara cati can lay many eggs, which are released into the external environment with the faeces. In one gram of faeces of a sick cat there are more than one hundred thousand toxocar eggs. This is a frightening figure!

Pathways and symptoms of infection

Infection with helminths can also occur from cat to kitten, through breastfeeding. Symptoms of these parasitosis: kittens walk "pudgy", stunted in growth, coat is not shiny, dull. Worms are sometimes found in vomit and faeces. The larva of the parasite wanders through the body of the cat, damages its organs and tissues, it leads to pneumonia, cough, ascites, the liver suffers. In adult felines, the disease is usually asymptomatic.

What else is toxocarosis in a pet dangerous?

The fact that it also affects humans. Statistically, most detected cases of human toxocarosis are caused by canine toxocara.  Toxocaroses caused by feline toxocara are isolated. Let's understand, and how a person in general can get infected with helminths.

There are many ways of infection: ingestion of parasite eggs together with contaminated food, with dust, with water, in contact with animals, through dirty hands, sometimes when eating meat from sick animals and the like. There have been cases when the helminth was transmitted from mother to child through the placenta or breast milk. In the human body, toxocaras can cause serious diseases. The most severe are those that affect the eyes and brain. In humans, helminths do not develop into adults, but can remain alive in larval form for a very long time, causing chronic diseases. Therefore, it is important to know the modern methods of treating helminthic diseases in our pets.

Drugs for the treatment of toxocarosis in dogs and cats

The best method of getting rid of helminths, including toxocarias, is prevention. It is always easier to prevent a disease than to fight it. Thus, we protect ourselves, others, our children from infection with parasites. But even if dogs or cats are already infected with worms, Apicenna preparations will easily cope with their task, get rid of helminths in the shortest possible time. Usually a single giving of the drug is enough. But with a strong worm infestation is shown repeated deworming in 10-14 days.

Against toxocaras are effective drugs: 

Helmimax tablets;

Prazicid Suspension plus;

Prazicid tablets;

Dirofen paste, tablets, suspension;

Prazicid Complex.

A little more about them:

Helmimax tablets - an antihelminthic drug produced by Apicenna, in tablet form. Moxidectin and praziquantel in the composition provide maximum effectiveness for the prevention and treatment of worm infestation (round and tapeworm helminths), including the prevention of such a dangerous disease as dirofilariasis. 

The unique division of the tablet into four parts allows precise dosage based on the weight of the animal. It has the taste and odour of baked chicken, which makes animals willingly eat the tablet themselves. Helmimax is available in three different dosages Helmimax - 4, Helmimax - 10, Helmimax - 20.

Prazicid-Suspension Plus is an antiparasitic drug, available as a suspension. Appointed to puppies, kittens, adult dogs and cats for the prevention and treatment of nematodes, cestodes and mixed infestations. Due to the three-component composition (pyrantel, praziquantel and febantel), whose active ingredients enhance the effect of each other, there is no habituation of the parasite to anthelmintics. Has a pleasant sweet flavour of milk chocolate to facilitate giving the drug.

Prazicid tablets - a complex antihelminthic agent, has in its basis two active components (pyrantel and praziquantel), which get rid of cats and dogs from all known types of parasites. They are enteric-soluble tablets, coated with a shell of light yellow colour, have a deep risk for clear division.
Dirofen from the company "Apicenna" is available in tablet form for oral administration.  Fission occurs without "rough" corners due to the porous structure of the drug.  It is presented on the market in 3 versions: for puppies and kittens; for dogs (small and medium breeds) and cats; for large dogs. Tablets contain precisely selected doses of such active substances as pyrantel, praziquantel and febantel.

Dirofen is also available in two more modifications: paste and suspension. Provides a full range of treatment and prevention of round and tapeworms. Regeneration of intestinal walls damaged by worms occurs due to pumpkin seed oil. And the special consistency and taste of milk mousse facilitate deworming.

Prazitsid-complex is a combined remedy for the treatment of worm infestations (round and tapeworms) and protection against external parasites. The advantage of this anthelmintic is the stimulation of immunity. Convenient dosage form in the form of drops on the withers allows to anthelmintic even aggressive or unruly pets.

Remember that it is up to your veterinarian to prescribe an antihelminthic suitable for your pet.
Before using an antihelminthic, it is necessary to read the instructions.
And do not get sick! Good health to you and your pets!

Немного подробнее о них:

Гельмимакс таблетки — антигельминтный препарат, выпущенный компанией Апиценна, в таблетированной форме. Моксидектин и празиквантел в составе обеспечивают максимальную эффективность для профилактики и лечения глистной инвазии (круглые и ленточные гельминты), в том числе для профилактики такого опасного заболевания как дирофиляриоз. Уникальное деление таблетки на четыре части позволяет точно дозировать препарат, исходя из веса животного. Имеет вкус и запах запеченной курочки, благодаря чему животные сами охотно съедают таблетку. Гельмимакс выпускается в трёх разных дозировках Гельмимакс - 4, Гельмимакс - 10, Гельмимакс - 20.

Празицид-Суспензия плюс — противопаразитарный препарат, выпускается в виде суспензии. Назначают щенкам, котятам, взрослым собакам и кошкам для профилактики и лечения нематодозов, цестодозов и смешанных инвазиях. За счет трехкомпонентного состава (пирантел, празиквантел и фебантел), действующие вещества которого усиливают эффект друг друга, отсутствует привыкание паразита к антигельминтику. Имеет приятный сладкий вкус молочного шоколада для облегчения дачи препарата.

Празицид таблетки — комплексное антигельминтное средство, имеет в своей основе два активных компонента (пирантел и празиквантел), которые избавляют кошек и собак от всех известных видов паразитов. Это кишечнорастворимые таблетки, покрытые оболочкой светло-желтого цвета, имеют глубокую риску для четкого деления.

Дирофен от компании «Апиценна» выпускается в таблетированной форме для перорального приема.  Деление происходит без «шероховатых» углов благодаря пористой структуре препарата.  Представлен на рынке в 3-х версиях: для щенков и котят; для собак (мелких и средних пород) и кошек; для крупных собак. Таблетки содержат точно подобранные дозы таких действующих веществ как пирантел, празиквантел и фебантел.

Дирофен также выпускается ещё в двух модификациях: паста и суспензия. Обеспечивает полный спектр лечения и профилактики круглых и ленточных гельминтов. Регенерация поврежденных глистами стенок кишечника происходит за счет тыквенного масла. А особая консистенция и вкус молочного мусса облегчают дегельминтизацию.

Празицид-комплекс – это комбинированное средство для лечения глистных инвазий (круглые и ленточные гельминты) и защиты от внешних паразитов. Плюсом данного антигельминтика является стимуляция иммунитета. Удобная лекарственная форма в виде капель на холку позволяет проглистогонить даже агрессивных или непослушных питомцев.

Помните, что назначить антигельминтик, подходящий вашему питомцу, должен ваш лечащий ветеринарный врач.

Перед применением антигельминтика необходимо ознакомиться с инструкцией.

И не болейте! Здоровья Вам и Вашим питомцам!