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The following are guidelines of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC).
The CAPC created these with the goal of providing optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets and people.
-Administer year-round treatment with broad-spectrum heartworm preventives that have activity against parasites with zoonotic potential. (Zoonotic diseases are those that animals can spread to humans.)
-Administer preventive flea and/or tick products as soon after birth as possible (consistent with label claims) for the life of the pet.
-Conduct annual physical examination with complete history.
-Conduct periodic (annual is ideal) heartworm infection testing in dogs and periodic testing in cats.
-Feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat) and provide fresh drinking water.
-Conduct fecal examinations every 3-6 months during the first year of life and every 6-12 months in adults, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors.
-Administer deworming treatment of puppies and kittens starting at 2-3 weeks of age and continuing every 2 weeks till 8-9 weeks of age, followed by administration of a monthly preventive.
-Treat nursing dogs and cats along with their offspring
-Tailor parasite prevention to individual environmental, seasonal and lifestyle factors
In the absence of optimal year round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combinations products utilize the following protocol:
-Deworm puppies and kittens as above, but continue every month after 8-9 weeks of age until 6 months of age.
-Conduct fecal examinations every 3-6 months in adult pets, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors, and treat with appropriate medications.
-Test for heartworm status yearly in dogs and/or before starting preventive medications.
Additional information can be found at www.capcvet.org
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