Internal parasites are a common problem in domestic animals. Some owners don’t even notice the parasites, while others see small white strands, grains or tiles in their pet’s poop. Worms may even appear in the animal’s vomit. When the alarm goes off, the owners are naturally interested in eliminating the internal parasites. Below we’ll describe all the symptoms, treatment options and prevention of this annoying problem.

Internal parasites or parasites in our pets’ digestive tract are as common as ticks and fleas. There can be different forms of parasites, from small worms to one-meter-long tapeworm. Worms are white and 5-12 cm long. The most common tapeworm in dogs and cats can grow up to 70 cm, is white-yellow and can move. We see them in poop or they stick to the hair around the anus and cause itching. The animal constantly licks around the bottom or slides it across the ground. It is often nervous and restless.

They have a very negative effect on the immune system and make the animal more susceptible to infection. However, certain internal parasites can also be transmitted to humans. In most cases, they become infected if they ingest parasite eggs that come into the environment with their feces. Preventive measures, regularly cleaning up after the pet and maintaining proper hygiene (washing hands) is very important.

Young pets and internal parasites

Young animals and parasite-related problems

• fall behind in growth and development
• lose weight
• are anemic
• recurring digestive problems
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• lack of joy
• enlarged stomach
• reduced appetite
• pale mucous membranes
• soft poop
• skin is non-elastic and ragged
• occasional seizures

How often do we deal with internal parasites?

We remove parasites from every animal, regardless of age, before vaccination; this is done to make sure that the body can respond well to the vaccine. The general rule is to give adult animals preparations against internal parasites at least 3-4 times a year. It’s important to eliminate fleas as well, as they are intermediate hosts for some worms. Dogs and cats become infected with worms when they swallow infected fleas.

The most obvious signs of parasite presence in intestines are:

• white worms in your dog’s stool
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• rapid weight loss
• anemia and itching around the anus
• rubbing against carpet or grass

Sexually mature parasites cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical signs depend on the degree of infection, the age of the animals and their general condition.

Dirofilariasis should also be mentioned; a disease caused by the heartworm Dirofilaria immitis, and carried by mosquitoes. Although the disease is not present in continental Slovenia, animals become infected if they travel to Mediterranean places. Adult worms cause enlargement of the heart and veins, as well as clogging, due to their number and size. We see this in:

• inappetence
• weight loss
• apathy
• coughing
• accumulation of fluid in the stomach

In order to prevent various conditions of illness which internal parasites can cause in animals and humans, we need to take care of regular use of parasite agents, regular disposal of animal feces and proper hygiene.

There are various preparations in the form of pills, paste, injections, skin drops… There has been a lot of attention lately on the positive effects of industrial hemp. Research over the past 10 years has repeatedly demonstrated a wide range of positive effects on the health of domestic animals. Cannabinoids act directly on the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, skin and digestive systems.

We have developed a special antiparasitic formula to eliminate internal parasites