While fleas and ticks are the most common parasites we think about on a daily basis, the least common are those creepy crawly things known as intestinal parasites. The thing to know about these creatures is that their eggs are microscopic and even though we can’t see them, they are all around us, even in Frederick, MD.
Wild creatures, such as rabbits and mice, are the most common carriers and they are all over. When our pets go outside and use the bathroom, this allows them to come in contact with these same parasites. They can enter our pet’s bodies through the pads of their feet and even by ingestion of their feces, yuck! Our indoor cats are even susceptible to these guys by ingestion of insects such as crickets and grasshoppers.
Parasites may not cause any outward health issues at first, but some signs of intestinal parasites can include a dull hair coat, weight loss, diarrhea and a pot belly. The most concerning of the intestinal parasites includes hookworms, roundworms and giardia. These guys are something called zoonotic, meaning they can be transferred to humans.
A way to keep our pets safe from these intestinal parasites is by administering a heartworm preventative that has a dewormer added to it. Kingsbrook Animal Hospital recommends using Sentinel. Sentinel is available only 
through a veterinarian and we believe to be the best preventative out there. Sentinel comes as a monthly tablet and takes care of roundworms, hookworms and another intestinal parasite called whipworms.