Several intestinal parasites are commonly found in kittens, puppies, and occasionally adult animals. Such intestinal parasites can cause severe illness. Fortunately, the most common intestinal parasites that may also infest people (roundworms and hookworms) are easily treated in dogs and cats with routine dewormings.

MVAH Tips 
Provide a safe home for your pet to live. 

Routine deworming is recommended every two (2) weeks starting at two (2) weeks of age for puppies until eight (8) weeks of age and starting three (3) weeks of age for kittens until nine (9) weeks of age. The mother is also dewormed as long as the puppies or kittens are still nursing or she is caring for her young. MVAH advises administering monthly heartworm prevention that also prevents infestation with roundworms and hookworms to all dogs and cats. Frequent removal of feces from the pet’s environment dramatically reduces the risk of intestinal parasite transmission to both pets and people.

To assist MVAH staff in providing the best intestinal parasite control, please bring a teaspoon-sized stool sample, preferably no more than 12 hours old, to every visit.

To make stool collection as easy and clean as possible for our clients, our staff would be glad to provide you with a fecalizer container and disposable gloves for no extra charge. Simply just ask us!

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.petsandparasites.org/) offers a wealth of information regarding these internal parasites.