ARCTIC FUSION SIBERIAN HUSKIES

COCCIDIA:    Caused by a group of protozoan parasites.  It is very common in dogs.  30-50% of puppies carry coccidia.  Signs of coccidia are:  diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, failure to thrive and blood in the stool.  A puppy coming from a breeder having coccidia is not an indication of poor breeding practices or an unclean enviroment, it can be picked up almost anywhere.  Coccidia is spread through ingestion of stool of infected dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, mice, and even birds can carry it.  This ingestion can be as little as walking through infected stool and then licking their paws.  Coccidia can be detected by the usual fecal flotation tests performed by your vet. 

GIARDIA:    Are one celled organisms that live in the intestines of dogs and cats.  Infection with GIARDIA is common but the disease is rare.  Not much is known about the organism and its life cycle at this time.  A dog becomes infected by ingesting the cyst form of the parasite.  It is passed in the feces and can contaminate a dogs food and water and his living enviroment.  Humans can also get GIARDIA, but it is unknown if a dog with GIARDIA can infect a human.  Symptomsof GIARDIA are usually not seen.  If a puppy is infected you will see diarrhea. Usually this diarrhea will have a bad odor, be pale, and look greasy.  This disease prevents the dog from absorbing nutrients properly and damages the intestinal lining and hinders digestion.  There are stool tests that can check for GIARDIA performed by your vet.

For more information on COCCIDIA and GIARDIA please visit:  www.peteducation.com

HEARTWORMS:    Caused by the bite of an infected mosquito.  They carry the larvae of the heartworm.  The larvae can live in the blood stream of a dog for up to 2 years.  Hearworms can cause irreversible damage to the heart by clogging the chambers of the heart and the pulmonary artery leading to low blood flow and inevitable death.  In severe cases the worms can block the vena cava that brings blood to the right side of the heart causing the blood to back up and enlarge the liver causing serious damage.  Signs of heartworm infection includes:  decreased appetite, loss of weight and lethargy.  The first signs is often a cough.  There are several blood tests that can confirm the diagnosis of heartworms performed by your vet. 

ROUNDWORMS:  Are very common internal parasites infecting the digestive system of dogs and cats.  Most puppies are infested with roundworms.  These worms can be transmitted in several ways.   Ingestion of eggs, ingestion of larvae, ingestion through mothers milk, and transportation through the uterus.  These worms can also inhibit nutrient absorption and damage of the intertinal lining.  Most of the time you will not see any indication of these worms unless you see the adults in the vomit or feces.  If the case is severe, you may see bloating of the belly, dull dry coat and a thin dog. A floatation test of the feces is used for detection of roundworms.  Wormers can be purchased at you vet or over the counter

HOOKWORMS:  Are the most common internal parasites of dogs and cats.  They can cause severe disease including anemia and diarrhea.  You may see pale gums, lethargy, in the animal from blood loss, black tarry stools, and dry dull coat.  There are various types of hookworms.  These worms can be transmitted in several ways.  Worms can bore through the skin, can be ingested, or can pass from mother to puppies through the uterus or milk.  Treatment can be done in various forms.  Liquid or paste wormers are available from your vet or you can purchase over the counter wormers.

RINGWORM:  Contrary to popular belief, ringworm is not a worm, but actually a fungus.  It can infect cats, dogs, and even humans.  Ringworm is transmitted by direct contact or with an item that has been contaminated with spores.  Symptoms are very specific, including a small round, hairless lesion.  The lesion will have scaley skin in the center and small pustules.  This lesion can be sore and itchy.  It can commonly be misdiagnosed as mange.  Some cases will spread to the face and nose and look like an autoimmune disease.  Lesions left alone will heal on their own in approximately 4 months.  There are topical antifungal creams that can be put on the lesions to help speed the process and ease pain and itching.  Antifungal shampoos and dips can also be used.

tape worm