Holistic Basics

How Are Parasites Transmitted

Dogs and cats pick up parasites on their paws when they frequent paths where other animals have eliminated. When they lick their paws they ingest the parasite. Parasites can also be transmitted by insects and other means. Of course, dogs and cats (and humans) all have parasites all the time. A healthy system keeps them in check. Health is the secret to allowing the body to do its job effectively.

One of the ways to know if your pet has parasites is to look for particular signs: excessive paw licking and ear discharge are two of the most common. Quite frankly, anything that happens on a regular cycle (every three weeks, approximately) can be attributed to a parasite. Just because your animal may have parasites is not a reason to panic! Instead, you may ask about deworming, which does not harm your pet and indeed can be beneficial.