Parasitology

Q. Why should I test for heartworm infection in cats?

We keep fecal containers marked with prepaid labels on hand.

To encourage clients to purchase heartworm tests and preventives, we placed posters throughout the clinic that list the price of a heartworm test, the price range of heartworm preventives, and the price of heartworm treatment if a pet becomes infected.

Staff meetings can be educational and fun if presented as a game show.

Why do fleas sometimes persist in an environment even when you think you and your client are doing everything right?

A convenient way to dispense single tubes of flea preventives is to separate the foil packets and insert them into paper pill envelopes.

More frequent and better fecal tests and reminders help clients keep pets parasite free.

Handy reference charts

Using preprinted paper and animal stickers, we make eye-catching scrapbook pages featuring our flea control and heartworm preventive products.

Use this form to gather a thorough history about flea control.

To encourage clients to purchase heartworm tests and preventives, we placed posters throughout the clinic that list the price of a heartworm test, the price range of heartworm preventives, and the price of heartworm treatment if a pet becomes infected.

Researchers have verified a benefit of sleep.

Improve client compliance with these hooks.

Stillwater, Okla. -- The Oklahoma State University Foundation received a $225,000 grant from Novartis Animal Health for laboratory renovations and start-up costs for the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology.

Feline heartworm is more prevalent than once believed, and cats likely face more damage from juvenile heartworms than from adult worms. Within two to three months, juvenile worms can cause serious pulmonary disease in cats, known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). Compounding this dangerous threat is the fact that neither antibody nor antigen tests can accurately detect HARD.

Fleas and ticks are still a threat in cold winter months, so be sure your clients are informed.

Stress the importance of year-round protection.

Recently, veterinary parasitologist and flea expert, Dr. Michael Dryden, met with a veterinary dermatologist and two progressive practitioners to discuss the concerns and misconceptions that clients, staff, and veterinarians have about flea control-and to come up with clear solutions for the perplexing problems surrounding this issue.

Q. How worried should I be about Baylisascaris procyonis infection in dogs? In which geographic regions is it most prevalent?

Strategic deworming programs were developed for Ostertagia problems in cattle, and are of limited use with Haemonchus infestations in small ruminants.

Although sheep and goats get numerous types of parasites, Haemonchus contortus is the most important nematode and most significant parasite with respect to anthelmintic resistance, and will be the focus of this discussion.

Bartonella henselae is the primary etiologic agent in Cat Scratch Disease, which causes fever and lymphadenopathy in humans.

Information on common parasites such as roundworms, ascarids, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.

The latest information on ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, cytauxzoonosis, babesiosis, hepatozoonosis, and bartonellosis.

Information on roundworms, ascarids, hookworms, tapeworms, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplasmosis.