There are several intestinal parasites that can infect both cats and dogs, but also can be zoonotic (infectious) to their owners...Yikes!  Here is a brief review of one common intestinal parasite.  The most important thing to take away from this article is to wash your hands, clean up the stool in the yard/litter box every day, and give your pet their monthly heart-worm treatment, which also usually includes a intestinal parasite medication.

We begin with....
                            ROUNDWORMS
*Most common intestinal parasite of the dog  and cat.
*Roundworms live in the small intestine, depriving the host of nutrients.
*Common symptoms include diarrhea, weight loss, swollen abdomen and    vomiting.  However, many cats and dogs have this parasite with no symptoms at all!
*Transmitted through the mother's placenta or milk or ingesting infected fecal or vomit.
*Zoonotic to humans...transmitted from ingesting infected fecal material (either from touching the animal or the fecal material itself).  Roundworms can migrate though the body, damaging the liver, heart, lungs or eyes.  So, how can you protect your family, furry and human?  (1).  Have your pet's fecal sample checked at least once each year.  (2).  Keep your dogs (and even cats) on a monthly heart-worm preventative-these prevent intestinal parasites too!! (3).  Wash your hands after cleaning the yard or litter box (kind of obvious!).  (4).  Keep sandboxes covered- cats in the neighborhood love these as litter boxes!  (5).  Pick up poop right away- fresh poop is not infectious.
*Diagnosis- Have a fecal sample checked at your veterinarian when your pet has the above symptoms and at least annually, especially if there are children in the house.
*Treatment- Prescription dewormer from your veterinarian and have your pet on a monthly heart-worm/intestinal parasite medication.
*Take home- Pick up the yard/scoop the litter box often, wash your hands frequently (remember cats/dogs like to sniff other cats/dog's behinds (-: and have a fecal sample routinely checked by your veterinarian.