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There are many types of internal parasites
that you pet comes in contact with. When a stool check is performed, we look
for the following: |
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1.
Roundworms-(click here to see picture)
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Roundworms are caught from the ground and/or through the placenta in the
mother’s womb. Roundworms are long, skinny worms that look like spaghetti
noodles and can be seen in your pet’s stool. |
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2.
Hookworms-(click here to see picture)
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Hookworms are
caught from the ground and/or through the mother’s milk. They cannot be
seen without the aid of a microscope. |
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3.
Whipworms-(click here to see picture)
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Whipworms are
caught from the ground. They cannot be seen without the aid of a
microscope. |
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4.
Tapeworm-(click
here to see picture)
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Tapeworms are
transmitted by fleas and/or eating wild animals or birds. Tapeworms are
small white worms that resemble rice grains and can be seen in your pet’s
stool. |
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5.
Coccidia
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Coccidia are one cell parasites which are caught from the ground. Coccidia
cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. |
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6.
Giardia
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Giardia is a protozoan parasite that is caught from the ground or stagnant
water. Giardia can only be seen by performing a fecal flotation.
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| It is important to
note that roundworms, hookworms & Giardia are contagious to people, especially
young children. |
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| When a fecal is performed on your pet, tapeworm eggs do not
usually show up in the stool specimen and therefore may not be diagnosed at the
time of the fecal. Thus, keeping a watchful eye for these parasites near your
pet’s rectum or stool is warranted if your pet has been wormed for other
parasites but not tapeworms and still continues to lose weight. |
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| General dewormer
given to your pet in the exam room covers roundworms and hookworms only, which
are in many cases 90% of all of your pet’s problems. |