PARASITOSIS IN PUPPIES AND KITTENS

In puppies, clinically manifest parasitoses cause functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, anemia (e. g. hookworm infections), ri ckett-like symptoms (askaridiosis), dermatitis (uncinariosis, strongyl oidosis, demodicosis) as well as encephalomyelitis, polyradiculitis, a nd muscular disease (neosporosis). In addition, subclinical infestatio n with parasites plays an important role for developmental disorders. This is particularly true for askaridiosis. The earliest times of infe ction of puppies differs for the various parasites. While toxocara can is is in most cases transmitted already in the prenatal phase or via t he lactogenic pathway during the first weeks of life (Stoye, 1983), in festation with all other agents of parasitic diseases of puppies is po ssible from the very first days post natum. It may become clinically m anifest from the second to third week of life onwards depending on the parasite.