Goose Creek Veterinary Clinic
501 Red Bank Road
Goose Creek, SC 29445
United States
Internal and External Parasites
Heartworms
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms. Heartworms are transmitted to our pets by mosquitoes. Starting on a microscopic level of infection, these parasites grow into long worms. Once infected treatment can be expensive and difficult for our pets to undergo. However, if left untreated heartworms will cause irreversible damage to the heart and lungs.
Internal (intestinal) Parasite:
There are several different types of intestinal parasites. Parasites are rarely life-threatening, but in some cases small puppies may become seriously ill. Parasites can be found in the stool and vomit. Other times we locate eggs in the feces during a physical exam or with a microscopic examination.
There are several different types of intestinal parasites. Parasites are rarely life-threatening, but in some cases small puppies may become seriously ill. Parasites can be found in the stool and vomit. Other times we locate eggs in the feces during a physical exam or with a microscopic examination.
Some parasites can be transmitted to people with contact of contaminated feces; small children are most at risk.
Roundworms - (Visible without a microscope) 
These parasites live freely in the intestines feeding off of partially digested intestinal contents. Roundworms are more harmful to puppies because they can cause growth reduction; they cause a "pot-belly" appearance in puppies, as well as recurrent diarrhea. You may see roundworms in stool or in vomit, they are long tubular shaped (like spaghetti noodles) and can be transmitted to people. Dogs and cats can pass these parasites to their puppies/kittens. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite.
These parasites live freely in the intestines feeding off of partially digested intestinal contents. Roundworms are more harmful to puppies because they can cause growth reduction; they cause a "pot-belly" appearance in puppies, as well as recurrent diarrhea. You may see roundworms in stool or in vomit, they are long tubular shaped (like spaghetti noodles) and can be transmitted to people. Dogs and cats can pass these parasites to their puppies/kittens. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite.
Roundworms can migrate to organs & tissues and to the eyes causing blindness in people, especially small children.
Hookworms - (Not visible) 
Animals become infected when larvae penetrate the skin or lining of the mouth. Dogs can pass these parasites to their unborn puppies. Hookworms, if left untreated, can cause life-threatening blood loss, weakness and malnutrition in canines and felines. Hookworms can be transmitted to humans when larvae penetrate the skin. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite.
Whipworms - (Not visible)
These are a type of intestinal parasite which dogs pick up from eating infected soil or licking contaminated paws/fur. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite.
Tapeworms - (Visible without a microscope)
Tapeworms are transmitted when a dog or cat eats an infected flea. They look like grains of rice or dried up sesame seeds; they are segmented and can also look flat. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite. Keep your pet on a good-quality flea control to help reduce the chances of tapeworm contamination.
Giardia - (Not visible)
These are single-celled intestinal parasites which you cannot see without a microscope. These parasites also damage the intestinal lining, resulting in diarrhea and the inability to absord nutrients properly. Giardia infections generally lead to diarrhea; there is treatment to eliminate the infection. Giardia is highly contagious, proper hygiene is essential to reduce further contamination.
Coccidia - (Not visible)
These are single-celled intestinal parasite which you cannot see without a microscope. Infection occurs when an animal comes in contact with contaminated soil or licks his fur/paws. These parasites damage the intestinal lining, resulting in bloody dirrhea and the inability to absord nutrients properly.
Puppies and kittens are especially prone to infection; coccidia is very contagious. There is a dewormer for this type of intestinal parasite.
External Parasites:
There are several different external parasites which can be a nuisance for your pet.
Animals become infected when larvae penetrate the skin or lining of the mouth. Dogs can pass these parasites to their unborn puppies. Hookworms, if left untreated, can cause life-threatening blood loss, weakness and malnutrition in canines and felines. Hookworms can be transmitted to humans when larvae penetrate the skin. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite.
Whipworms - (Not visible)
These are a type of intestinal parasite which dogs pick up from eating infected soil or licking contaminated paws/fur. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite.
Tapeworms - (Visible without a microscope)
Tapeworms are transmitted when a dog or cat eats an infected flea. They look like grains of rice or dried up sesame seeds; they are segmented and can also look flat. There is a dewormer available for this type of intestinal parasite. Keep your pet on a good-quality flea control to help reduce the chances of tapeworm contamination.
Giardia - (Not visible)
These are single-celled intestinal parasites which you cannot see without a microscope. These parasites also damage the intestinal lining, resulting in diarrhea and the inability to absord nutrients properly. Giardia infections generally lead to diarrhea; there is treatment to eliminate the infection. Giardia is highly contagious, proper hygiene is essential to reduce further contamination.
Coccidia - (Not visible)
These are single-celled intestinal parasite which you cannot see without a microscope. Infection occurs when an animal comes in contact with contaminated soil or licks his fur/paws. These parasites damage the intestinal lining, resulting in bloody dirrhea and the inability to absord nutrients properly.
Puppies and kittens are especially prone to infection; coccidia is very contagious. There is a dewormer for this type of intestinal parasite.
External Parasites:
There are several different external parasites which can be a nuisance for your pet.
Fleas: 
Fleas can cause skin problems ranging from slight discomfort to horrible allergic outbreaks with hair loss and skin infections . A good-quality monthly flea control can easily prevent these conditions and also help prevent tapeworm infection.
Ticks:
We also have ticks in the area; ticks carry several diseases. Lyme disease and Ehrlichia are two tick-related diseases. The deer tick and western black-legged tick are the two main culprits in disease transmission. We have a 8-minute in-house test which can easily check for lyme disease and ehrlichia, as well as heartworms.
Mites (Mange):
There are two main types of 'mange' which is actually a small mite that can cause severe skin conditions.
The first being demodectic (demodex) mange - this is a hereditary skin mite; if the immune system is compromised it will easily cause an outbreak with hair loss and secondary infections. This is not contagious to other dogs, cats, or people. Since demodex is a hereditay disease, we do not recommend breeding an animal that has been diagnosed with this mange. There is a treatment for the disease, after a doctor has evaluated your pet and confirmed demodex with a skin scraping.
The second common type of skin mite we see is sarcoptic (scabies) mange - this is a very contagious disease. It is extremely itchy and animals will often develop a secondary skin infection. If you notice any type of rash on your skin, please contact your primary care physician. Scabies is treatable, after a doctor has evaluated your pet and confirmed the condition.
Ear mites:
Ear mites are commonly found in cats, but dogs can be affected as well. They will cause discomfort in the ears, resulting in animals scratching at them. A dark discharge is also common when ear mites are involved. There is a treatment for ear mites, once a doctor has evaluated and confirmed the mites.
Fleas can cause skin problems ranging from slight discomfort to horrible allergic outbreaks with hair loss and skin infections . A good-quality monthly flea control can easily prevent these conditions and also help prevent tapeworm infection.
Ticks:
We also have ticks in the area; ticks carry several diseases. Lyme disease and Ehrlichia are two tick-related diseases. The deer tick and western black-legged tick are the two main culprits in disease transmission. We have a 8-minute in-house test which can easily check for lyme disease and ehrlichia, as well as heartworms.
Mites (Mange):
There are two main types of 'mange' which is actually a small mite that can cause severe skin conditions.
The first being demodectic (demodex) mange - this is a hereditary skin mite; if the immune system is compromised it will easily cause an outbreak with hair loss and secondary infections. This is not contagious to other dogs, cats, or people. Since demodex is a hereditay disease, we do not recommend breeding an animal that has been diagnosed with this mange. There is a treatment for the disease, after a doctor has evaluated your pet and confirmed demodex with a skin scraping.
The second common type of skin mite we see is sarcoptic (scabies) mange - this is a very contagious disease. It is extremely itchy and animals will often develop a secondary skin infection. If you notice any type of rash on your skin, please contact your primary care physician. Scabies is treatable, after a doctor has evaluated your pet and confirmed the condition.
Ear mites:
Ear mites are commonly found in cats, but dogs can be affected as well. They will cause discomfort in the ears, resulting in animals scratching at them. A dark discharge is also common when ear mites are involved. There is a treatment for ear mites, once a doctor has evaluated and confirmed the mites.