Why  We  Test  Your  Pet’s  Poop!  

Dr.  Jeffrey  Haymaker  

It’s  an  automa+c   reac+on   for  many  people  –  “I’m   taking  Bella   to   the  vet,   so   I  be=er  bring  some  of  her  poop  too.”  But  why  is  it  important  to  bring  your  furry  friend’s  feces  to  the  vet?  The  answer:  disease  screening  for  both  your  pet  and  you.  Dogs,  cats,  and  all   animals   for   that   ma=er   have   an   assortment   of   parasites   that   they   can   become  infected  with,  and  many  of  these  can  also  infect  humans.    The  most  common  parasites  of  dogs  and  cats  are  roundworms  and  hookworms.  Dogs  can  also  be  parasi+zed  by  whipworms.  These  parasites  can  cause  diarrhea  and  weight  loss,  most  commonly  in  young  animals.  Hookworms  can  also  cause  anemia,  or  low  red  blood   cells,   because   they   a=ach   themselves   to   the   intes+nal   wall   where   they   suck  blood.  Virtually  all  puppies  and  ki=ens  are  born   infected  through  placental  migra+on  or   quickly   become   infected   by   roundworms   and/or   hookworms   from   their  mothers’  milk.    Even  when  properly  dewormed,  the  mother  dogs  and  cats  can  s+ll  have  worms  inside   their  muscles   that   do   not  wake   up   from   their   state   of   arrested   development  un+l   the   puppies   or   ki=ens   are   nearly   ready   to   be   born.   Once   the   worms   grow   to  adulthood  inside  the  dog’s  or  cat’s  intes+nal  tracts,  they  mate  and  release  eggs.  These  eggs  are  passed  in  our  pets’  feces,  where  they  contaminate  the  ground.  Some+mes  the  eggs  are  picked  up  by  smaller  animals   like  rodents  and  birds,  and  then  are  passed  to  our  pets  when   they  eat   that   animal.  Most   commonly,   dogs   and   cats   get   infected  by  inges+ng  the  eggs  either  directly  from  feces  or  indirectly  by  ea+ng  something  that  the  eggs  have  contaminated,  such  as  dirt  or  plant  materials.    

Dr.  Jeffrey  Haymaker  

People   can   become   infected   the   same   way   as   pets,   which   is   termed   fecal-­‐oral  transmission.  Most  commonly,  it  is  children  who  contract  these  parasites  because  they  put  many  inanimate  objects  in  their  mouths  that  may  be  contaminated,  and  also  have  a   less-­‐developed   immune  system  to  destroy   the  parasites   if   they  manage   to  make   it  inside  their  bodies.  Once  inside  a  human,  roundworms  oRen  get  lost  since  they  are  not  in  the  correct  host  species  and  end  up   in  abnormal  areas  such  as  the  muscles,  brain,  organs,   or   eyes.   This   is   called   visceral   larva   migrans.   Hookworms   can   also   be  transmi=ed  by  the  fecal-­‐oral  route,  but  they  can  also  burrow  through  the  skin  of  a  dog,  cat,  or  human  –  most  commonly  through  bare  feet.  While  they  will  find  their  ways  to  the  intes+nes  in  most  dogs  and  cats,  they  will  also  get  lost  inside  human  skin,  causing  cutaneous  larva  migrans.    Another  very  common  parasite  is  the  tapeworm.  These  are  classically  seen  as  “grains  of  rice”  in  the  animal’s  stool.  They  can  cause  diarrhea  and  weight  loss  occasionally,  but  again   more   so   in   young   animals.   The   most   common   way   a   dog   or   cat   contracts  tapeworms  is  by  inges+ng  fleas.  The  juvenile  tapeworm  lives  inside  the  flea,  and  when  a  dog  or  cat  bites   the  flea  off,   it   is   swallowed  along  with   the   tapeworm.  Tapeworms  can  also  be  transmi=ed  when  dogs  and  cats  eat  rodents  or  rabbits.  Children  can  again  be   infected   by   ea+ng   fleas   but   this   is   not   common.   The   most   relevant   piece   of  informa+on  to  have  is  that  if  you  see  tapeworm  segments  in  your  pet’s  stool,  your  pet  probably  has  fleas.    Fortunately,   all   of   the   aforemen+oned   parasites   can   be   prevented.  Using   a  monthly  heartworm   preventa+ve   to   protect   against   infec+on   of   deadly   heartworms   through  mosquito   bites   has   the   added   benefit   of   controlling  many   intes+nal   parasites.  Most  heartworm   preventa+ves   will   control   roundworms   and   hookworms.   Some   will   also  control   whipworms   and   tapeworms.   Since   tapeworms   usually   are   a   result   of   a   flea  infesta+on,  the  best  way  to  control  against  those  are  with  veterinarian-­‐recommended  flea  preventa+ves.  Fortunately,  all  of  these  common  parasites  are  treatable  if  your  pet  contracts  them.      However,  there  are  other  parasites  that  we  screen  for  in  your  pet’s  stool  that  cannot  be  prevented  with  medica+on.  Examples  of  these  are  Giardia,  Coccidia  (also  known  as  Isospora),   Capillaria,   Strongyloides,   Toxoplasma,   and   Neospora.   Many   of   these   can  cause  serious  disease,  while  others  may  only  cause  mild  diarrhea.  Regardless,  it  is  very  important   to   have   your   pet’s   stool   sample   checked   at   least   annually   to   ensure   the  chance  for  harm  to  you  and  your  loved  ones,  furry  and  non-­‐furry,  is  minimal.