CLIN101B: INTRODUCTION TO VETERINARY CLINICS

PARASITES OF DOGS AND CATS

Dr. JAMES MIRANDILLA, DVM

TOXOCARA CANIS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Arrow-headed worm of dog ● Asymptomatic, but may cause recurrent mucoid diarrhea and
● Ova are 72-85 µm size dysentery
● live in small intestine; with direct life cycle TREATMENT

● Fenbendazole
● Milbemycin
● Oxantel

ANCYLOSTOMA CANINUM

● Hookworm of dog (sucks 0.1 ml blood/day)

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ● Ova are 38-43 µm, and thinwalled
● Live in small intestine
● Vomiting
● diarrhea
● weight loss
● dull hair coat
● pot-bellied appearance
TREATMENT

● Pyrantel pamoate (embonate)

DIPYLIDIUM CANINUM SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Double-poured tapeworm of dog and cat ● Anemia and hypoproteinemia (due to blood loss)
● ova are 35 to 40 µm size (25- each egg capsule)
● live in small intestine TREATMENT
● transmitted by dog and cat flea
● Fenbendazole
● Albendozole

SPIROCERCA LUPI

● Esophageal worm of dog

● 20-37 µm, paper clipshaped ova
● Larva travels from aorta to esophagus, causing “Fibrosarcomalike”
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS lesion.

● Mostly asymptomatic, though can cause:

→ gastrointestinal upsets
→ anal pruritus
TREATMENT

● Praziquantel
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
TRICHURIS VULPIS
● Asymptomatic, but nodular lesion
● Whipworm of dog
● loss/decrease of appetite
● Ova are typically “barrelshaped”, 45-75 µm
● dysphagia and weight loss.
● Live in large intestine

TREATMENT

● Imidacloprid
● Moxidectin

CLIN101B PULIDO, JIANNE DAPHNE 1 of 5

 ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS TREATMENT

● Hydatid worm of dog Ova are 30-40 µm ● DOC: Pyrantel pamoate

● Live in small intestine
TOXOCARA CATI

● Arrow-headed worm of cat

● Ova are approximately 70 µm
● Live in small intestine

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Abdominal pain if liver is affected

● coughing and digestive signs if respiratory and digestive system

TREATMENT
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
● Mebendazole
● Albendazole ● Main idea
● Vomiting
ISOSPORA CANIS ● Diarrhea
● Weight loss
● Coccidia of dog Oocyst is 30- 37 µm ● dull hair coat
● Live in small intestine ● potbellied
→ where sexual multiplication takes place
TREATMENT

● Pyrantel pamoate (embonate)

TOXOPLASMA GONDII

● Coccidia of cat
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ● Cyst is approximately 5-50 µm size
● Enteric tract (of cat)
● Anemia
● weight loss
● vomiting
● diarrhea
● dehydration

TREATMENT
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
● Sulfa-drugs: TMP-S (sometimes metronidazole)
● Asymptomatic, though severe cases marked by
PHYSALOPTERA SPP → Diarrhea
→ breathing problem
● Stout stomach worm of dog → seizure
● Ova are 42-53 µm TREATMENT
● Stomach of dog (and cat)
● DOC: Clindamycin

HETERODOXUS SPINIGER

● Chewing (biting) louse of dog

● Adults up to 5 mm length
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ● Live on skin of host

● Gastritis
● Bleeding
● Anemia
● Dark diarrhea
● Vomiting
● Weight loss

CLIN101B PARASITES OF DOGS AND CATS 2 of 5

 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Scratching ● Causes anemia and irritation

● Biting
● allergic reaction (and may serve as IH for endoparasites) TREATMENT

TREATMENT ● Fipronil
● Fluralaner
● Methoprene also Fipronil and Selamectin
DERMACENTOR VARIABILIS

TRICHODECTES CANIS ● American dog tick

● Adults are 5-7 mm
● Canine chewing louse ● Live on skin of host, as blood sucker
● Adults are 1.60 to 1.82 mm (male and female)
● Live on skin of host

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
● Causes anemia and irritation

● Same signs with H. spiniger

TREATMENT
TREATMENT
● Fipronil
● Methoprene
● Imidacloprid
● Amitraz
● Selamectin
● Topical permethrin
SARCOPTES SCABEI
CTENOPHALIDES CANIS
● Itch mite of dog
● Size of 0.3 x 0.4 mm (adult)
● Dog flea
● Live on deeper layer of skin
● Adults are 1.5 - 2.0 µm
● Live on hair and skin of host

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ● Causes intense irritation

● itch lumps and nodules
● Intense pruritus ● pustules
● allergic dermatitis ● Secondary infections due to self-inflicted trauma
● pyotraumatic dermatitis
TREATMENT
TREATMENT
● Ivermectin
● Fipronil ● Amitraz
● Methoprene
DEMODEX CANIS
RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEOUS
● Follicular mite of dog
● Brown dog tick Adults are 4.2- 6.2 µm ● Size of 0.18 x 0.21 um
● Live on skin, as blood sucker ● Live on skin follicles
● serve as intermediate host for various pathogens

CLIN101B PARASITES OF DOGS AND CATS 3 of 5

 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Causes non-pruritic mange but with hair loss

● Scratching, biting, allergic reaction
● erythema
● lichenification
TREATMENT
TREATMENT
● Fipronil
● Amitraz ● Methoprene

OTODECTES CYNOTIS CTENOPHALIDES FELIS (C. FELIS FELIS)

● Ear mite of dog and cat ● Cat flea (has more elongate head than C. canis)
● Size of 0.4 mm ● Adults are 1.5- 2.5 um
● Live on ear canal of host ● Live on hair and skin of host

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Ear irritation, that may progress to otitis and brain infections ● Intense pruritus
● allergic dermatitis
TREATMENT ● pyotraumatic dermatitis

● Fluralaner TREATMENT
● Afoxolaner
● Fipronil
CHEYLETIELLA SPP ● Methoprene

● Walking dandruff mite of dog and cat NOTOEDRES CATI

● Size of 0.5 mm
● Live on skin and hair of host ● Itch mite of cat (causing feline scabies
● Size of 0.20 - 0.24 mm (adult)
● Live on deeper layer of skin

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Can cause mild dermatitis and hypersensitivity

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

TREATMENT ● Causes intense irritation

● Alopecia
● Selamectin ● secondary bacterial infection
● Milbemycin
TREATMENT
FELICOLA SUBROSTRATUS
● Topical selamectin
● Biting/ chewing louse of cat
● Size up to 1 mm length
● Live on skin and hair of host

CLIN101B PARASITES OF DOGS AND CATS 4 of 5

 DEMODEX GATOI

● Follicular mite of cat

● Size of 0.081- 0.115 (adult)
● live in skin follicles

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

● Causes alopecia and contagious pruritic dermatosis

TREATMENT

● Fluralaner
● Sarolaner

CLIN101B PARASITES OF DOGS AND CATS 5 of 5