HOW TO DEAL WITH INTERNAL PARASITES

Enlarge Image Image Gallery [1] Your vet can identify parasites by their eggs, which float to the top of the small bottles when the manure is mixed with the solution contained in the large jar. The separated eggs can then be studied and identified under a powerful microscope. [2] Strongyle (a common intestinal parasite) eggs revealed by the solution test and magnified 100 times! [3] Roundworms (Ascarids) are among the most common parasites, and are sometimes passed in manure. If your dog or cat has ever had worms, these pests were probably the culprits. [14] Whipworm (Trichurus) egg as seen under the veterinarian's microscope. [5] Whipworms arc parasites found in many barnyard beasts. [6] When a manure test turns up parasite eggs in heavy concentrations, it usually indicates a severe infestation. [7] These tiny pinworms (Oxyuris) are often the cause of low vitality in horses. [8] Liver flukes (Fasciola and Fascioloides) infest sheep, goals, and cattle. [9] Tapeworms (Taenia and Dipylidium) are the largest internal parasites. [10] In this section of a badly infested horse's stomach, the brown dots are parasites called ""bots""

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PART I

Veterinarian Randy Kidd is back ... with more on how to keep your pets and barnyard animals
healthy.

It's very possible that a number of total strangers are thriving on the food that you give to your livestock or pets. These "freeloaders" may take many forms, but they usually resemble white worms and could be either several feet in length or microscopically small.

I'm talking, of course, about internal parasites, and—if your feed bills have been rising while the general health and productivity of your animals have been slipping—these pests are probably already well established around your farm or home.

Internal parasites (commonly called worms) occur in every part of the world . . . and each living creature (yes, even humans) has its own particular worms. Worse yet, since these parasites live (usually) in an animal's belly or intestines, you may not even know that your beasts are infested with 'em! Of course, animals with severe worm problems will display some of the classic symptoms-such as weight loss, poor growth, low milk yields, weakness, or white gums—but a critter can have parasites without showing such drastic signs. For example, a recent experiment—conducted on healthy- looking goats—showed that milk production was increased by 17% after one dose of an effective worm medicine!

THE PROBLEM WITH PARASITES

Before you can even begin a parasite elimination program, though, you'll have to realize that you are faced with more than one form of pest. You see, most worms have several stages in their life cycles . . . and—in order to completely eradicate the freeloaders—you have to attack each of those Individual stages separately.

In order to explain this difficulty, let's look at the life cycle of the common parasite, Haemonchus . The adult worm thrives in the stomachs of sheep and goats, and there, in its hiding place, the parasite lays tough-skinned eggs . . . which are passed In the host animal's feces (manure). Now, these eggs can lie on your fields for years (unaffected, in many cases, by either freezing cold or intense heat), just waiting for another animal to come along and pick them up.

So, the first problem that confronts the "do it yourself" parasite controller is that worm eggs can be almost anywhere and are nearly impossible to destroy.

But, let's continue with our "sample" parasite. The eggs in that sheep or goat manure may, perhaps, be picked up by a small snail who happens to be munching grass in the area. Once inside the snail (which is referred to as the parasite's "intermediate host"), the egg will develop into a larva . . . this is the second stage in the life cycle of the Haemonchus .

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