As soon as you bring home a pet, you must be aware of a few responsibilities. One of these is making them a part of your family and ensuring their healthy growth. A part of this is vaccinating them to keep them safe from infectious diseases. You should strictly adhere to the recommended vaccination schedule to minimize the risk of contracting deadly diseases.
In fact, your pet’s health is in your hands. You should talk to your vet for a comprehensive care plan that suits your pet’s lifestyle and medical needs. Click here to learn more about the vet services you should get for your pets.
Why Vaccinations Are Important for Your Pets
All pets are susceptible to parasites. They can roam around outside, where they likely come in contact with contaminated soil, feces, or urine that may contain worms or other types of harmful microbes. If your pets are updated with their vaccinations, they are less likely to contract parasites.
There are two major categories of parasites in pets as follows:
1. Internal Parasites
They can get these parasites by ingesting anything containing worm eggs, such as food, water, or even the fur/feathers of other infected animals. Signs of parasitic infection include diarrhea, vomiting, itchy skin, and pale gums caused by a lack of nutrients from food due to blood loss.
Some types of internal parasites may be transmitted to humans, so it’s imperative to have your pet vaccinated for this. Examples of internal parasites are:
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
- Tapeworms
- Heartworm
- Coccidia
- Giardia
2. External Parasites
Some external parasites can also be transmitted to humans, so it’s important to vaccinate your pet against them. They’re more commonly found living in the fur of animals and on their skin. Some even prefer warmer places like between their pads or under their tail.
These parasites are more than just an annoyance for your pet. They can cause blood loss, leading to anemia, hair loss, scaly skin, irritated skin around the neck and ears, overall unthriftiness, and lethargy. Vaccines protect your pets from these external parasites that include:
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Mites
- Heartworms
- Sarcoptic mange (scabies)
- Demodectic mange (demodicosis)
Remember that mosquitoes can also spread heartworms, but the infestation is not as common as other parasite types. Your pet can acquire a parasitic infection from ingesting an infected mosquito if they’re around stagnant water frequently. Go to this page to find out more about the benefits of pet vaccinations to your cats and dogs.
Signs and Symptoms of Parasite Infection in Pets
If you think your pet has contracted a parasite, here are some signs of infection to look out for:
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Anemia – caused by loss of blood due to parasites that live in the small intestine. This causes pale gums and dull eyes. Seek medical treatment immediately if you notice these symptoms because other more serious conditions can also cause anemia.
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Behavioral changes like aggressiveness or excessive scratching
- Increased thirst and urination caused by worms feeding on the blood inside the body through the stomach, intestines, lungs, liver, etc.
How to Prevent Parasites in Pets
Keeping your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date is the best way to prevent parasitic infections. The following are also some of the measures you can take.
1. Give a Parasite-Free Diet
Your pet’s food plays a crucial role in their health. If you feed them high-quality foods with good nutritional value, it boosts their immune system so they can fight parasites naturally on their own.
Some examples of what you should feed your pets are:
- Canned pumpkin
- Yogurt (with active cultures)
- Mint leaves or oil (helps keep fleas away)
- Garlic (fights worms)
- Olive leaf extract
- Spinach (lowers blood pressure)
- Ground flax seed (for a shiny coat and overall health)
- Water – it is the most important element for survival. Your cats and dogs should always have fresh, clean water available. If you think there’s something wrong with their drinking water, change it immediately.
2. Hygiene
Just like humans, animals also need to bathe regularly. Pet shampoo designed for sensitive skin is an excellent choice to rid them of parasites and maintain a clean coat.
Regularly check your pet’s fur, as well as their bedding area, for the presence of fleas or ticks. If you notice something, carefully remove it with tweezers and put it in a paper towel soaked with rubbing alcohol. Seal the paper towel in a plastic bag and throw it away immediately so that the pests don’t have a chance to escape or infect someone else.
3. Clean Your Home Regularly
Parasites can survive for a long time, even if the host is dead. They leave eggs that can remain dormant in your carpets and upholstery until they’re disturbed by someone walking through it or a pet lying down. Regularly cleaning surfaces where your pets spend most of their time will prevent them from coming into contact with parasites.
In addition, don’t allow people or animals who have been outside to come inside without washing their paws first so you can avoid bringing external parasites inside your home.
Remember
Your vets play an essential role in your pet’s health, so you must choose the right one. Ensure they are equipped to diagnose and treat parasites and other diseases in the safest and most effective ways possible. They should have specialists, such as a pet surgeon, a cat and dog dentist, and others, to provide advanced care and services for your pets.
Additionally, it is essential to take your dog or cat to the vet immediately if you suspect they have come into contact with parasites. Delaying treatment can make an infection worse and even be fatal in some cases.
A pet’s quality of life greatly depends on how well their health is maintained, so keep them protected by keeping their vaccinations up-to-date and practicing good hygiene around the house.
