Internal: Parasites seen in stool or vomit, or the eggs of worms or other intestinal parasites may be found by us with a microscopic parasite exam of the feces. External: Scratching, hair loss, inflamed skin, actual parasites seen (fleas, lice, etc.). *Mites must be found microscopically by skin scraping.

Many symptoms of a parasitic infection are similar to other illnesses, making it particularly important to test for parasites for proper diagnosis and treatment. A comprehensive parasite test, using a stool sample analyzed by a laboratory specializing in parasite testing, is the most effective way to diagnose this type of infection.

There are a number of intestinal worms that can infect dogs and cats, and they vary according to the species. In general, these include tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, and they are very prolific. In fact, one worm can produce more than 100,000 eggs per day, which are then passed in the pet’s feces and spread throughout the area the pet roams. Once in the environment, these eggs can remain infective and present a health risk for your pet and to humans for years.

Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite of pets and the most likely to be transmitted to humans. Humans can accidentally ingest infective worm eggs that have been passed through the pet’s feces and left in the environment. The eggs hatch in the human’s intestinal tract, and the immature worms travel to various tissues in the body, including the eyes and brain, causing serious infections.

Animal Rescue Center does not accept stray animals unless they are injured. All stray animals should be taken to your local Animal Care & Control so that their owners have an opportunity to find them.

Certain parasites, such as tapeworms, are visible to the naked eye, but others must be detected under the microscope. If you will bring in a stool sample we will be glad to examine it microscopically to see if your pet has worms.

Parasites are found in raw and undercooked food and treated and untreated water; are transmitted by insects and household pets; and are passed from person to person through unsanitary habits and poor hygiene. Parasites travel in different ways. For example, the microorganism Giardia, which causes persistent diarrhea, fever, cramps and other symptoms, is contained in feces. It gets into public water supplies when animal or human sewage contaminates the water source.

If ingested, make sure the pieces pass in the pet's bowel movement. If nothing passes within 24-48 hours or the animal seems uncomfortable, contact your vet and let them know of the incident.

Please check FDA's Web site at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html to see if your pet food has been recalled: If your pet food is not listed, the pet food is not affected by the recall and you can continue to feed it to your pets. If your pet shows a sudden onset of symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting, or lack of energy, stop feeding the pet food and contact your veterinarian. If the pet food is one of those being recalled, do NOT feed it to your animals.

Yes - Although rare cats have been infected by the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Dogs at this time have not been found infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, however other mammals have become infected and it is thought dogs could also become infected.

For any dead animal in the road, call Public Works at 561.804.7000 and they will remove it. If the animal is on private property, it is the property owner's responsibility to remove it.

Please refer to the list provided on Metro Animal Services website). An application can also be downloaded from the Metro website.

Call the Oakland Pet Adoption Center at 248-391-4102 to find out if the pet has been reported missing. If so, you will be given the name and phone number of the possible owner. If you wish to keep the pet for a few days to see if the owner turns up, you should leave a found report at the Pet Adoption Center. Otherwise, you can bring the pet to the center or request that the pet be picked up.

All Rock Island County residents should obtain their pet registration tags from Rock Island County Animal Care and Control. Pet tags may be purchased at the county animal shelter located at 4001 - 78th Avenue in Moline, or by calling (309) 558-3483 and requesting a tag by mail. Pet owners must have a copy of a current rabies vaccination certificate to buy a tag.

Pets recently or lightly infected with heartworms may show no signs of disease. In later stages, dogs with heavy or persistent infection may cough, become lethargic, lose their appetites or have difficulty breathing. Owners may first notice that their dogs seem to tire rapidly after only moderate exercise. Fluid may accumulate in the abdomen (ascites) as a result of advanced heartworm infection. Another serious, but less common, manifestation is caval syndrome (a form of liver failure).

Luckily for your pooch, you don't have to wait for her to gain weight to tell if she's pregnant. There are a lot of nutritional and other health precautions that you should take with a pregnant dog to keep her and her puppies healthy, so it's best if you learn whether she's pregnant as soon as possible. A veterinarian can determine whether she's pregnant at about three weeks after breeding, either through blood testing, ultrasound, or a physical examination.

Most ear infections are obvious as there is a pungent odor and waxy discharge in the affected ear. However, sometimes an ear will look perfectly normal from the outside but will be intensely itchy for the dog. Either way, it is best to have a vet examine in the ear to ensure that there are no foreign bodies such as a grass seed stuck in the ear canal. Common signs of an ear infection are:

First take the animal to any veterinarian or shelter to determine if the pet has a microchip. If the pet does have a chip, the vet or shelter will call the owner(s) on your behalf and let them know how to retrieve their pet. If the pet does not have a chip, we suggest you make found flyers and post them in and around your neighborhood as well as at your local animal shelter(s). Should you be able to not house the pet, you can bring it to your local animal shelter.

the price includes spay/neuter surgery, preliminary shots, dewormer, physical exam, heartworm test for a dog and feline leukemia/feline AIDS test for a cat. PLEASE NOTE: As of September 1, 2007, the adoption fee (for all dogs and cats, regardless of age, breed, or size) will increase to $75. The increase will cover the cost of microchipping all adopted pets, along with the registration of the chip into a national database.

Neither is a vegan by nature -- dogs are omnivores, and cats are carnivores. While both dogs and cats belong to the class carnivora, this doesn't mean a lot, so does the panda bear and they are near vegan. By nature cats and dogs wouldn't eat anything like what is commonly found in a can of pet food either. Special diets must be provided for cats, as they require an amino acid called taurine -- found in the muscles of animals.

No. You are welcome to come to the shelter at any time during business hours and see our pets available for adoption. Our business hours are 11-3 Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 on Saturday. Also, all of our pets are available to view at any time on this web site by clicking the "Our Pets" link at the top of each page. Each pets' bio includes at least one photo and all of the information we have on that specific pet.

Though moles rarely come above ground, it is a possibility, and your dog or cat may want to play with the mole. Because of mole illnesses, a mole lurking on your property can pose a danger to domestic dogs and cats. Your dog or cat will likely be tempted to dig moles to the surface in your yard, which will also cause more lawn damage.

Common cat parasites, if left untreated, can do tremendous damage to your cat's health. They not only sap your cat of energy, they can be down right dangerous. Cat ring worm is actually not a worm, but a contagious fungal infection that can be passed between species. It is common and the symptoms are easy to spot, but stubborn cases can be difficult to cure. Cat round worm is the most common intestinal parasite in cats, so it is important to know what it is and what to look for.

Rabies is a big concern, as well as cat-scratch fever, toxoplasmosis, and in the southwest, plague. Parasites such as fleas, ticks, hookworm, or roundworm can also be transmitted to people from outdoor cats. Always keep your cat's vaccinations current, and wash your hands well after digging in your garden or changing your cat's litter box. Keeping your cat indoors is the best way to ensure that you and your cat will stay healthy.

In order to protect the health of all dogs visiting Abigold, your dog must be free of all intestinal parasites. If a guest dog has intestinal parasites, our play yards could become contaminated, and some types of worms could be transmitted to other guest dogs. If your dog takes monthly heartworm preventative year round, he must have had a negative fecal test within 1 year prior to boarding.

The most common coccidia found in dogs do not have any affect on humans. However, less common types of coccidia are potentially infectious to humans. One parasite, called Cryptosporidium, may be carried by dogs or cats and may be transmitted to people. This parasite has also been found in public water supplies in some major cites. Good hygiene and proper disposal of dog feces are important in minimizing risk of transmission of all canine parasites to humans.