Roundworms

Species affected: dogs and cats

Scientific names: Toxocara canis (dogs),Toxacaris leonina (dogs and cats), Toxocara cati (cats)

Clinical signs: none in early infections

• Cats: stunted growth, damage to tissues due to migrating larvae, diarrhea, vomiting, pot-bellied appearance, death 
• Dogs: stunted growth, diarrhea, vomiting, pot-bellied appearance, liver and lung damage due to migrating larvae, death

Mode of transmission: oral ingestion of eggs from environment, oral ingestion of larvae present in an intermediate host (ie. rodents), transmission of larvae from dam to young through the placenta (dogs only) and milk (dogs and cats)

Diagonsis: eggs in fecal examination

Treatment: fenbendazole or pyrantel pamoate; supportive care 

• All puppies and kittens should be dewormed for roundworms

Prevention: Roundworm eggs are very resistant in the environment

• Pick up feces immediately with plastic bag and discard into trashcan until infection resolved
• Wash hands well after handling feces
• Make sure all pets are screened yearly for roundworms and treated if infected
• Administering a monthly heartworm preventative like Interceptor, Sentinel or HeartgardPlus will prevent pets from becoming infected with roundworms
• A 1% bleach solution (3 cups bleach per gallon of water) will disinfect surfaces
• Confine cats indoors
• Prevent coprophagia (ingestion of feces)
• Do not allow pets to lick human faces

Zoonotic disease: Human toxocarosis (visceral larva migrans)

• Results from oral ingestion of eggs
• Primarily affects children and immunocompromised adults
• Larva migrate through the lungs, liver, kidneys, brain and eyes leading to inflammation and organ damage
• A leading cause of blindness in young children

Informaiton about human roundworm infections from the CDC

Please contact our veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Florida (FL) at 727-896-7127 for more information.