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Parasites + English

  • Liver fluke (Heterobilharzia americana) is a parasitic worm that affects dogs in the southern Atlantic and Gulf states and causes a disease called schistosomiasis. The fluke’s lifecycle is complex and involves a freshwater snail. Dogs can become infected by swimming or wading in water that has the larval stages of the fluke. The flukes cause granulomas (inflammatory nodules) to form in the liver, intestines, and other abdominal organs. Symptoms of gastrointestinal and liver disease may be present.

  • Lotilaner + moxidectin + praziquantel + pyrantel (brand name Credelio Quattro®) is a combination antiparasitic used to protect against ticks, fleas, heartworm disease, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older and weighing at least 3.3 lb (1.5 kg). It comes in a chewable tablet to be given monthly. Its use is currently only approved for dogs.

  • Lung flukes are parasitic worms (trematodes) that infect cats’ lungs after they have eaten an infected crayfish or rodents that have eaten infected crayfish. Infected cats can be symptom-free or may develop cough with sometimes bloody mucus, pneumonia, pneumothorax, lethargy and weakness.

  • Lung flukes are parasitic worms (trematodes) that infect dogs’ lungs after they have eaten an infected crayfish or rodents that have eaten infected crayfish. Infected dogs can be symptom-free or may develop cough with sometimes bloody mucus, pneumonia, pneumothorax, lethargy and weakness.

  • Lungworm infection is caused by one of several parasitic roundworms. Cats can get a lungworm infection by swallowing infective stages of parasitic lungworm. The exact way that a cat is infected varies according to the life cycle of the parasite. This handout outlines the signs, diagnosis, and treatment for lungworm in cats.

  • Lungworm infection is caused by one of several parasitic roundworms. Cats can get a lungworm infection by swallowing infective stages of parasitic lungworm. The exact way that a cat is infected varies according to the life cycle of the parasite. This handout outlines the signs, diagnosis, and treatment for lungworm in dogs.

  • The bacterium that causes Lyme disease can be transmitted to dogs through the bite of an infected tick, most commonly the deer tick (black-legged tick), which is found in the midwestern and eastern United States and throughout Canada.

  • Metronidazole (brand name Flagyl®) is used off label in the treatment of certain infections, such as those caused by Giardia and Trichomonas, in dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and other animals. It is often used to treat diarrhea and other intestinal problems.

  • Milbemycin oxime + lufenuron is a heartworm disease preventive that also treats internal parasites (e.g., whipworms, hookworms, and roundworms) and controls flea populations in dogs. Milbemycin oxime + lufenuron is given by mouth as a flavored chew tablet. At prescribed doses, this medication is well-tolerated; when used off-label at higher doses for treating mites, side effects have been observed. Your veterinarian will advise you on the safety of milbemycin oxime + lufenuron use in your dog. If you suspect an overdose or an adverse reaction to the medication, call your veterinary office immediately.

  • Milbemycin oxime + lufenuron + praziquantel is a heartworm disease preventive that also treats certain internal parasites and controls fleas in dogs. This combination medication is given by mouth as a flavored chew tablet. At prescribed doses, this medication is well-tolerated. Certain dog breeds are more sensitive to milbemycin than others; your veterinarian will advise you on the safety of milbemycin use in your dog. If you suspect an overdose or an adverse reaction to the medication, call your veterinary office immediately.