Pet Parasites and People

• All Dogs and cats are born with parasites; Adult pets easily acquire infections as well from infected pet feces or soil. • Common parasites from dogs and cats can cause serious disease, even death in humans. • Accidentally swallowed microscopic eggs from pets or soil hatch into larvae (baby worms).

• Migrating larvae travel throughout the body causing an allergic reaction in humans. This can affect internal organs, the eye or brain. The larvae never develop into adult worms in humans.

• Children and immune compromised adults are most at risk (diabetics, chemotherapy patients, sick, elderly, pregnant, transplant patients etc)

• This problem is far more widespread than most people realize – the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recently found that 17% of people in the US test Positive for titers to Toxocara species (roundworms from dogs and cats).

Roundworms from dogs and cats are a leading cause of vision loss in children in the US today.   Read The Hidden Risks of of Roundworm Infection, A Mother's Perspective on Zoonosis.

That’s why the Centers for Disease Control (the CDC), the Companion Animal Parasite Council and others ALL recommend regular monthly broad spectrum de-worming for ALL cats and dogs. This is especially important for families with small children or anyone who is immune compromised.

At the Adobe Pet Hospital we follow the CDC’s and Parasite Council’s recommendations and prescribe safe, effective once-a-month medications that protect our pets and their families at the same time.