All sorts of parasites inhabit animals and people throughout the world. When you bring your dog or cat into Qatar Veterinary Center, whether it be for vaccinations or illness, you may hear us ask, “Has your pet been recently dewormed?” This is an important question. Some of the most common worms found in our beloved pets can cause them harm, or even be passed on to people.
Hookworms are common here in Qatar. Adult hookworms can live in the intestines of dogs and cats and suck their blood. Eggs are spread through the pet’s feces. They can cause serious blood loss to your pet, which can even be life threatening especially in smaller breeds or puppies. Hookworms can infect humans either by the fecal/oral route (ex. a child touches the feces then touches their mouth) or by going through our skin (ex. walking barefoot on a beach where dogs have been going to the bathroom). This can make us ill or get an itchy rash. Hookworms are almost never seen by an owner. Roundworms are also common in our pets. They too pass eggs in the feces but do not get through our skin. Roundworms can make our pets feel weak, have a poor coat, and lead to vomiting or diarrhea. Although they live in the intestines of dogs and cats, when they get in a human they often get confused and wander to other places. They can end up in other areas such as our lungs, heart, and even our eyes, causing blindness. Roundworms too are almost never seen by the owner. Our other most common parasitic worm is the Tapeworm. This one infects our pets when they eat things like fleas, rodents, and organ meat. They can make our pets lose weight and just feel generally unwell. This worm is often identified by the owner when they see tiny rice-like segments near the pets rectum or on the stool. It is rare for this worm to pass from a dog or cat to it’s owner.
Trying to keep our pets parasite free is really important for both their health and ours. Even more so with children in the home. At Qatar Vet Center we recommend deworming your cat or dog every 3 months. This is a simple and easy procedure that can be done at home. If you have any questions regarding parasites please contact your QVC veterinarian.
Dr Sam, DVM
