Parasite Control in Animal Shelters
Dogs and cats can carry a wide variety of internal and external parasites. Some can be passed to humans, and some can cause significant disease and discomfort in their host.
It is not possible or practical to test or treat each animal for every parasite. Animals with clinical signs of parasite infestation should receive individualized workup and treatment in consultation with a veterinarian.
Written guidelines should be created for prophylactic parasite control tailored to regional and facility parasite prevalence and based upon the sheltering facility and mission. At minimum, shelters should ensure that cats and dogs have been treated for common zoonotic parasites prior to release.
All dogs and cats should be treated for hookworms and roundworms, ideally upon entry.
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Parasite Control [PDF]