The most common intestinal parasite, roundworms (also called ascarids) are especially prevalent in puppies and kittens. They are slender, spaghetti-noodle shaped worms that measure two to six inches in length. There are 3 types of roundworms: Toxascaris leonine, Toxocara canis, and Toxocara cati. The primary hosts for T. Leonine are the dog, cat, fox, and other wild carnivores. The primary hosts for T.Canis are the dog and fox; the host for T. Cati is the cat.

Roundworms can be found in the stools of a pet that is heavily infested, or a fecal exam by a veterinarian will reveal roundworm eggs.

Animals with roundworms pass the infection to other animals when the worm eggs are present in the animal's feces (droppings). Your pet can pick up the infection by eating infected soil, licking contaminated fur or paws, by drinking contaminated water, or ingesting small rodents (rodents are carriers of roundworms).

Infected female dogs may pass the infection to their puppies before birth or afterwards when they are nursing. Roundworm infections often cause puppies to appear pot-bellied or bloated, be anemic, have diarrhea, weight loss and vomiting. The puppies are often less lively and do not grow as well as uninfected puppies. Infected female cats cannot infect their kittens before birth, but can pass on the infection through their milk when kittens are nursing.

After hatching in the pet’s intestine, roundworm larva are carried by the bloodstream to the lungs. Young animals may develop serious respiratory problems such as pneumonia. From the lungs, the larvae crawl up the windpipe and are swallowed. Coughing occurs when the larvae are in the throat. Once the larvae are in the intestine, they grow to adulthood. Because roundworms live in the small intestine, they steal the nutrients from the food your pet eats and that can lead to malnutrition and intestinal problems.

Accurate diagnosis of roundworms is important since they can cause serious problems. Puppies and kittens can die from severe roundworm infections. One-month-old puppies and kittens should have their stool examined for roundworms. As a precautionary measure, many veterinarians routinely treat young puppies and kittens for roundworm infections.

Roundworm infection is a zoonotic disease. Zoonotic is the term used to describe an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans. While direct contact with infected dogs and cats increases a person's risk for roundworm infection, most infections come from accidentally eating the worm eggs. For example, children are at risk for infection if they play in areas that may contain infected feces (such as dirt piles and sandboxes), and they pick up the eggs on their hands.

Left untreated, roundworms in people can cause serious health problems when the larvae enter organs and other tissues, resulting in lung, brain, or liver damage. If the roundworm larva enters the eyes, permanent, partial blindness can result.

Lakeside Veterinary clinic assumes no liability for injury to you or your pet incurred by following these descriptions or procedures.