Parasites in Dogs – Fleas, Ticks, Mites, & Worms

During many of our pets lives they may experience the discomfort caused by parasites such as fleas, ticks, mites or worms. Often fleas and ticks can be easy for dog owners to spot and identify, this is not always the case, and internal parasites can be present in your dog without you realising it. These parasites can be extremely irritating to pets and can cause serious health problems or even carry disease. 

What Are Parasites in Dogs? 

The center for disease control defines a parasite as “an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host.” 

There are two main categories of parasites in dogs that owners should be aware of: internal parasites and external parasites.

Internal parasites, such as hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms live inside the body of an animal, they can be transferred in various ways, and can affect a number of organs. External parasites, such as fleas and ticks, live on the body of the host and produce an infestation.