Endoparasite prevalence of shelter dogs at the Enid SPCA

Abstract

Shelter medicine is a unique discipline of veterinary science that faces challenges that are often uncommon to private practitioners. Shelters must incorporate a balance of the healthcare of individual animals with the financial stability of the shelter. In order to maintain this balance shelters are provided with specific protocols for the healthcare of homeless animals that are brought to the shelter. One aspect of these protocols is parasite control. This study was to determine if the current protocol for parasite control at the Enid SPCA in Enid, Oklahoma was the most effective. This was accomplished by diagnosing 93 canines using fecal floatation. Results indicated that of those 93, 18.3% harbored intestinal parasites. Roundworms and hookworms had the highest parasite prevalence. Whipworms, tapeworms, and coccidia had the lowest parasite prevalence. The current protocol requires canines to be treated with Pyrantel pamoate upon intake and every two weeks thereafter. Whipworms, tapeworms, and coccidia are to be treated with Panacur granules only after fecal diagnosis or upon signs of symptoms. Based on these results and the low rate of parasite prevalence the current protocol is effective for parasite control.