Intestinal Parasite Prevention for Dogs and Cats

– By Dr. Kaitlin Thompson –

Dog under blanket

Preventing intestinal parasites with a monthly oral medication or an annual injection is essential for maintaining your pet’s health. This is incredibly important—even for pets that live mostly indoors. There are three primary types of intestinal parasites that are commonly seen and treated in dogs and cats:

  • Roundworms

  • Hookworms

  • Tapeworms

These parasites survive by feeding off your pet’s nutrients (roundworms and tapeworms) or, in some cases, by feeding on their blood (hookworms). They can cause symptoms such as diarrhea with roundworms and tapeworms, and in severe hookworm infections, pets may even develop anemia.

How Pets Get Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms and hookworms are spread through the fecal-oral route. This means dogs and cats become infected by ingesting parasite eggs from their environment. This often happens when other infected animals contaminate the area, including soil, grass, or shared spaces.

Pets can also contaminate their own environment. Once parasite eggs are left behind, pets may accidentally re-infect themselves through grooming or exposure.

Keeping Your Pet’s Environment Clean

Because parasites can live in the environment, keeping your pet’s surroundings clean plays a big role in prevention. Be sure to:

  • Clean up feces in the yard within 48 hours

  • Scoop the litter box daily

  • Wash pet bowls and bedding at least once weekly

  • Disinfect commonly used areas when possible

These simple steps help reduce parasite exposure and limit the chance of reinfection.

How Tapeworm Infections Happen

Unlike roundworms and hookworms, pets get tapeworms when they swallow an infected flea while grooming. This is why parasite prevention and flea prevention go hand in hand. Treating one without the other leaves your pet vulnerable.

Why Monthly Prevention Is So Important

Monthly parasite prevention is the most effective way to protect your pet from intestinal worms. These products:

  • Treat existing infections

  • Kill parasites your pet may already have

  • Help prevent new infections

  • Reduce environmental contamination

  • Protect human family members from zoonotic disease

Staying consistent is key—skipping doses increases the risk of reinfection.

We’re Here to Help

Luckily, the team at Vickery Place Animal Hospital is here to help with all your parasite prevention needs—from testing and diagnosis to treatment and long-term prevention planning.

Book today to keep your pet protected all year long!