Vet-reviewed

Parasites

The Parasites section explains the internal and external parasites that can affect your pet’s health, offering guidance on how to recognize signs of infestation, prevent exposure, and protect them year-round.

85 articles

Featured in Parasites

Owner offering a chewable tablet to a blue merle Australian shepherd puppy on a sunlit wooden porch

Parasites

Roundworms in Dogs: Signs, Worms in Poop, and Treatment

Roundworms in dogs look like pale spaghetti in poop or vomit. Learn the symptoms, which over-the-counter and prescription dewormers work, the puppy deworming schedule, and how to protect your family.

Dr. Athena Gaffud

January 13, 2026

All Parasites articles

Owner in a field jacket checking the fur on a chocolate Labrador retriever's neck and behind its ear in a grassy meadow

Parasites

Botfly (Cuterebra) in Dogs and Cats: Warbles, Removal and Prevention

A botfly warble is a firm lump with a small breathing hole, usually on a pet's head or neck. Here's how to spot Cuterebra in dogs and cats, why you should never squeeze it, and how removal and recovery work.

Webvet Editorial Team

Dec 1, 2025

Brittany spaniel sniffing a small white tablet in an owner's open hand while a calico cat watches from the sofa

Parasites

Praziquantel for Dogs and Cats: Tapeworm Dosing, Side Effects and OTC Options

Praziquantel for dogs and cats treats tapeworms, usually in one weight-based dose. Learn which products are OTC, how to dose by weight, how fast it works, side effects and why flea control stops reinfection.

Webvet Editorial Team

Nov 27, 2025

An owner fits a plain collar on a grey tabby cat on a sofa, two fingers slipped under the collar to check the fit.

Parasites

Flea Collar for Cats: Do They Work, Are They Safe, and Which to Choose

A vet-reviewed guide to flea collars for cats: which ingredients actually kill and repel fleas, what the EPA found about Seresto, kitten age minimums, breakaway safety, and five collars compared.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 23, 2026

adult indoor cat beside three unbranded cat-specific preventive formats while an owner checks the package label

Parasites

Best Flea and Tick Prevention for Cats: Vet-Reviewed Options

Compare cat flea and tick preventives by coverage, format, duration, prescription status, age, and safety, including permethrin danger and household fit.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 12, 2026

Dog owner checking behind a dog's ear for ticks after a wooded walk

Parasites

Deer Tick vs Dog Tick: Pictures, Diseases, and Removal

Learn how blacklegged deer ticks differ from American dog ticks, why photos can mislead, and what to do safely after finding either tick attached to a dog.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 22, 2026

pet owner applying hose-end yard treatment to a shaded fence line while dogs remain safely indoors

Parasites

Best Flea and Tick Yard Treatment: Pet-Safe Options Compared

Compare four hose-end yard treatments and learn where to apply them, what pet-safe use means, and when prevention or professional help matters more for dogs and cats.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 22, 2026

Licensed macro photograph of real flea eggs shown as smooth pearly white ovals on a dark surface

Parasites

Flea Eggs on Dogs: Pictures, Identification, and Removal

Learn what real flea eggs look like on dogs, how to separate them from dandruff and flea dirt, and how to protect both the dog and the home during treatment.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 22, 2026

pet owner reading a household flea spray label beside a carpeted room while a dog and cat remain safely behind a closed doorway

Parasites

Best Flea Spray for Home and Furniture: Vet-Reviewed Picks

Compare six household flea treatments by surface, application format, safety requirements, and role in a complete flea-control plan for dogs and cats.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 22, 2026

Owner checking a dog's outer ear without putting liquid into the canal

Parasites

Home Remedies for Dog Ear Mites: What Helps Safely

Learn what home remedies for dog ear mites can and cannot do, why common ingredients may be unsuitable, and how to carry out a safe veterinary treatment plan at home.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 11, 2026

Shetland Sheepdog scratching one ear outdoors, a common dog ear mite symptom

Parasites

Dog Ear Mite Symptoms: Signs, Pictures and Lookalikes

Recognize possible ear-mite signs, interpret a real parasite micrograph honestly, compare wax and infection lookalikes, and prepare useful observations for a veterinary examination.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 11, 2026

Veterinarian gently lifting a Papillon's ear during an ear mite examination

Parasites

Ear Mites in Dogs: Treatment, Spread and Household Care

Understand ear-mite diagnosis, product-specific treatment, transmission between pets and a practical household care record that keeps cleaning separate from parasite control.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 11, 2026

Young orange-and-white kitten standing in a towel-lined tray on a scale.

Parasites

How to Tell If a Kitten Has Worms: Signs and Next Steps

Learn how to tell if a kitten has worms, which signs need urgent veterinary care, and how stool testing and an age-appropriate deworming plan help. Get practical, source-backed guidance for your next veterinary conversation.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 18, 2026

Gloved hands preparing a sample container, phone, and litter scoop.

Parasites

What Do Worms Look Like in Cat Poop? Photo Guide

What do worms look like in cat poop? Compare rice-like tapeworm segments, long roundworms and common look-alikes, then learn what to save for your vet. Get practical, source-backed guidance for your next veterinary conversation.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 18, 2026

Owner observing a tuxedo cat beside its food dish.

Parasites

Signs of Worms in Cats: A Symptom and Urgency Checklist

Know the signs of worms in cats, what you can check at home, which symptoms need urgent care, and why a stool test matters even when poop looks normal. Get practical, source-backed guidance for your next veterinary conversation.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 18, 2026

Cat owner handing a sealed sample bag to a veterinary nurse.

Parasites

Worms in Cats: Types, Signs, Treatment and Prevention

Worms in cats can be hidden. Compare five worm types, learn how infection spreads, and know when testing, treatment or emergency care is needed. Get practical, source-backed guidance for your next veterinary conversation.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 18, 2026

NexGard Plus six-chew box labeled for dogs weighing 33.1 to 66 pounds

Parasites

NexGard Plus for Dogs: Uses, Doses and Side Effects

A guide to NexGard Plus coverage, five weight bands, monthly dosing, side effects, heartworm testing and prescription purchase costs under the current US label.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Sep 17, 2026

Simparica Trio six-chew box labeled for dogs weighing 44.1 to 88 pounds

Parasites

Simparica Trio for Dogs: Uses, Dosage, Safety and Cost

Simparica Trio for dogs: a current US guide to ingredients, parasite coverage, weight-band dosing, prescription requirements, side effects and buying costs. Use it to discuss the right preventive with your veterinarian.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Sep 17, 2026

Owner reviews veterinary paperwork beside a stool sample cup while a dog waits nearby

Parasites

How Much Does Giardia Treatment Cost for Dogs?

Giardia costs vary by exam, fecal test, medication, supportive care, rechecks, and complications. Compare dated lab benchmarks without mistaking them for a full bill.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 3, 2026

Dog waits behind a gate while an owner loads bedding into a washing machine

Parasites

Prevention of Giardia in Dogs: Home Care, Cleaning, and Reinfection

Reduce Giardia reinfection risk with a practical routine for stool pickup, laundry, bowls, safe surface cleaning, bathing, fresh water, and veterinary follow-up.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 3, 2026

Owner looks at soft stool on a lawn while holding a dog leash and waste bag

Parasites

What Does Giardia Poop Look Like in Dogs?

Giardia may cause soft, pale, greasy-looking, foul-smelling, or mucus-covered stool, but pictures cannot diagnose it. Learn the testing steps and urgent red flags.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 3, 2026

Leashed corgi drinks from a muddy woodland puddle

Parasites

How Do Dogs Get Giardia? Contagion to Dogs and Humans

Dogs get Giardia by swallowing cysts from fecally contaminated water, soil, food, objects, or fur. Learn about indoor exposure, dog-to-dog spread, and human risk.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 3, 2026

Owner gives oral medication to a small dog at home

Parasites

Giardia Treatment in Dogs: Medicine, Fenbendazole, and Vet-Guided Care

Giardia treatment combines veterinarian-selected medicine, hydration, nutrition, cleaning, and rechecks. Learn how fenbendazole and metronidazole differ and when persistent diarrhea needs follow-up.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 3, 2026

Gloved owner collects a dog stool sample in a backyard

Parasites

Symptoms of Giardia in Dogs: Testing and What to Do Next

Giardia can cause recurring diarrhea, mucus, weight loss, or no symptoms at all. Learn when stool testing, treatment, cleaning, and urgent veterinary care are needed.

Webvet Editorial Team

Sep 3, 2026

An owner's hand holding a single doxycycline capsule and an amber prescription bottle in a lamp-lit living room, with an attentive English Springer Spaniel watching from just behind

Parasites

Antibiotics for Lyme Disease in Dogs: Doxycycline and Dose

Doxycycline is the first-line antibiotic for Lyme disease in dogs. See how the dose is calculated by weight, how long the course runs, what improvement should look like, and what vets prescribe when doxycycline cannot be used.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 26, 2026

Veterinarian gently examining a golden retriever and tabby cat together in a clinic

Parasites

Pyrantel Pamoate for Dogs and Cats: Dosage Chart and Side Effects

Pyrantel Pamoate for Dogs and Cats explained: see the vet-reviewed dosage-by-weight chart, side effects, safety warnings, cost, and when to call your veterinarian.

Webvet Editorial Team

Nov 27, 2025

Dog owner reviewing a heartworm treatment cost estimate at a veterinary clinic front desk

Parasites

Heartworm Treatment Cost for Dogs: What to Expect

Heartworm treatment cost for dogs commonly runs $1,000 to $3,000 or more. Here is the honest stage-by-stage breakdown, what changes the price, how prevention compares, and where to find help paying the bill.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

A veterinarian giving a subcutaneous injection between the shoulder blades of a calm adult yellow Labrador standing on a stainless steel exam table, the owner's hands resting on the dog's chest, in a bright clinic exam room with softly blurred cabinets behind

Parasites

Heartworm Injection for Dogs: ProHeart 6 vs 12

The heartworm injection for dogs is a prescription moxidectin shot given by a veterinarian. See how ProHeart 6 and ProHeart 12 differ, which dogs qualify, what the FDA label says about side effects, why the product was pulled in 2004, and what it costs.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

Owner hand-feeding a monthly chewable heartworm preventive to an attentive golden retriever in a bright kitchen, product packaging out of frame

Parasites

Best Flea Tick Heartworm Prevention for Dogs: A Vet-Reviewed Comparison

No single product covers fleas, ticks, and heartworm equally. Compare Simparica Trio, Trifexis, Interceptor Plus, Advantage Multi, and Sentinel Spectrum, and see how a veterinarian matches prescription prevention to your dog.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

Photorealistic photograph of a veterinarian in green scrubs handing a small monthly heartworm preventive to a puppy's owner across a stainless steel exam table, a wriggling eight-week-old labrador puppy standing between them with the owner's hand steadying its chest, bright clinic lighting and a blurred cabinet of supplies behind

Parasites

Heartworm Prevention for Puppies: A Vet-Reviewed Guide

Heartworm prevention for puppies starts earlier than most new owners expect. A vet-reviewed guide to the first dose deadline, why puppies under seven months skip the pre-start test, weight-band dosing while your puppy grows, the first-year testing schedule, and what it all costs.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

A photorealistic photograph of a veterinary technician in blue scrubs drawing a small blood sample from the foreleg of a calm adult tan mixed-breed dog on an exam table, with the owner's hands resting on the dog's shoulders and the dog's face turned toward the camera in bright clinic light

Parasites

Heartworm Test for Dogs: Costs, Timing, and Accuracy

A heartworm test is a quick blood test, but a clean result only covers exposure from about seven months ago. Here is how the antigen and microfilaria tests differ, why the annual test matters even on year-round prevention, what to do after a missed dose, and what it costs.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

A veterinarian in navy scrubs kneels beside a calm adult mixed-breed dog in a bright exam room, listening to the dog's chest with a stethoscope while the owner's hands rest gently on the dog's shoulders, soft daylight through a window behind them

Parasites

Heartworm Treatment for Dogs: The Protocol, Step by Step

The heartworm treatment protocol in order: staging, doxycycline, the melarsomine injection series, strict exercise restriction, retesting, and what recovery really looks like.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

A photorealistic macro photograph of a single mosquito resting on the short-haired muzzle of a relaxed brown dog in warm late-afternoon backyard light, shot with shallow depth of field so the dog's eye stays soft behind it

Parasites

How Do Dogs Get Heartworm? The Mosquito Route, Explained

Heartworm reaches a dog through exactly one route, the bite of an infected mosquito, and never from another dog, a shared bowl, or stool. Here is the larval life cycle, why the six-month prepatent period makes a negative test misleading, and why indoor dogs are not exempt.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

Photorealistic photograph of an adult medium-sized mixed-breed dog lying on a living room rug mid-cough with its head lowered and neck extended, while its owner kneels beside it on the floor with one hand resting on the dog's chest, warm indoor daylight from a window and a sofa and bookshelf softly blurred behind

Parasites

Heartworm Symptoms in Dogs: Stage-by-Stage Warning Signs

Heartworm symptoms in dogs appear late, long after the worms arrive. A vet-reviewed walkthrough of the silent early months, the first soft cough, the class 1 through class 4 staging, the late-stage signs, and the caval syndrome emergency that cannot wait.

Webvet Editorial Team

Aug 7, 2026

A pet owner holding an oral cat dewormer while a healthy adult cat sits calmly on a home sofa, weighing over-the-counter versus prescription options

Parasites

Best Cat Dewormer: OTC vs. Prescription Guide

Compare the best cat dewormer options by worm type: which OTC and prescription products treat roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, the signs your cat needs deworming, and how to dose safely.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 16, 2026

A person's hands part the lower-back fur of a gray-and-white cat, revealing tiny black flea dirt specks caught at the hair roots near the tail base

Parasites

Flea Dirt on Cats: What It Looks Like and How to Confirm It

Flea dirt on cats is flea feces made of digested blood, so finding it means live fleas. Learn what it looks like, how to confirm it with the wet paper towel test, and how to tell it from dandruff, dirt, and chin acne.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 26, 2026

Dog owner parting the fur between a calm border collie's shoulder blades to apply a topical flea-and-tick spot-on treatment

Parasites

Best Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs: 13 Vet-Checked Picks

The best flea and tick prevention for dogs is the vet-recommended product your dog actually tolerates and you give on schedule. This guide compares oral chews, topical spot-ons, and collars so you can match protection to your dog's age, lifestyle, and region.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Jun 5, 2026

A person using fine-point tweezers to grasp a tick at the skin and pull it straight out of a dog's coat

Parasites

How to Remove a Tick From a Dog (Safely, Step by Step)

Learn how to remove a tick from a dog the right way: fine-point tweezers, a straight-up pull, and no twisting or squeezing. This vet-reviewed guide covers the exact technique, what to do if the head gets stuck, disposal, aftercare, and the symptoms to watch for.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Jun 5, 2026

Pet owner vacuuming a living room carpet thoroughly while a dog and cat rest nearby, illustrating daily flea control in the home

Parasites

How to Get Rid of Fleas in the House and Yard

Learning how to get rid of fleas in the house means treating your pets, your home, and your yard on the same day, then repeating for several weeks to outlast the flea life cycle. This vet-reviewed guide walks you through every step and explains why fleas keep coming back.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Jun 5, 2026

A pet owner using a fine-toothed flea comb to part the fur at the base of a calm dog's tail, checking the skin for fleas and flea dirt

Parasites

How to Get Rid of Fleas on Dogs: Treatments That Actually Work

Learning how to get rid of fleas on dogs takes more than one bath. This vet-reviewed guide covers fast-acting flea medicine, a four-step home plan, honest home remedies, and how to keep fleas gone for good.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Jun 5, 2026

A veterinarian using a fine-toothed flea comb on a calm tabby cat lying on an exam table

Parasites

How to Get Rid of Fleas on Cats: A Vet's Step-by-Step Guide

Learning how to get rid of fleas on cats means treating two things at once: the fleas on your cat and the much larger population hiding in your home. This vet-backed guide walks you through fast relief, the best flea treatments, safe home cleanup, and what to skip.

Dr. Pippa Elliott

Jun 5, 2026

Veterinarian giving a subcutaneous Lyme disease vaccine to a calm dog on a clinic table

Parasites

Lyme Disease Vaccine for Dogs: Does Your Dog Need It?

A vet-reviewed decision guide to the Lyme disease vaccine for dogs: how well it works, the schedule and boosters, cost, side effects, and which dogs actually need it.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 13, 2026

Owner parting a dog's fur outdoors to check the skin for ticks after a walk

Parasites

Lyme Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Lyme disease in dogs is a tick-borne infection that can cause fever, lameness, and kidney damage. Learn the early symptoms, how testing and antibiotics work, and how to protect your dog year-round.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 13, 2026

Owner crouching in tall meadow grass checking a beagle's coat for ticks under an overcast sky

Parasites

Tick-Borne Diseases in Dogs: What Every Pet Parent Needs to Know

Tick-borne diseases in dogs are spreading, and their early signs are easy to miss. Here is a vet-reviewed guide to Lyme, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and the rest: the symptoms to watch for, how they are tested and treated, and the layered prevention that keeps your dog safe.

Dr. Athena Gaffud

Jan 13, 2026

Owner parting the fur on a dog's neck to check for ticks outdoors

Parasites

Ticks on Dogs: Symptoms and Treatment

Found ticks on your dog? Learn the symptoms of a tick bite, what actually kills ticks safely, how to care for the bite site after removal, and the red flags that mean it is time to call your veterinarian.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 13, 2026

A person's hands parting the shoulder fur of a black and white Border Collie outdoors in low evening light, revealing a small dark tick attached against pink skin

Parasites

What Kills Ticks on Dogs Instantly? A Vet-Reviewed Answer

No home remedy kills an attached tick instantly. Here is what vinegar, dish soap, salt, alcohol, and heat really do, the correct removal-first sequence, and the realistic time to kill for products that work.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 26, 2026

Owner parting a cat's fur at the base of the tail to inspect the skin for fleas and flea dirt

Parasites

What Do Fleas Look Like on Cats? Photos of Fleas, Eggs and Flea Dirt

Wondering what do fleas look like on cats? See how to identify adult fleas, flea eggs, and flea dirt, run the wet paper towel test, and check your cat step by step with a flea comb.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 12, 2026

Parasites

Fleas on Cats: How to Spot Them and What to Do Next

Fleas on cats cause more than itching. Learn to spot flea dirt, run a simple at-home test, understand the diseases fleas spread, and clear them from your cat, home, and yard for good.

Dr. Athena Gaffud

Jan 13, 2026

Shorthaired tabby cat standing in a shallow sink while a person works white shampoo lather into the fur along her back and neck in bright bathroom light

Parasites

Flea Shampoo for Cats: Does It Work and What to Use

Flea shampoo for cats kills the adult fleas on the coat during the bath and leaves almost no protection afterward. Here is what that means, which cat-labeled shampoos are worth buying, why a dog product can kill a cat, and how to bathe a cat safely.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 26, 2026

A cream longhair cat being combed over a dark wood floor, with tiny pale oval specks falling from the coat and visible against the dark surface below

Parasites

Flea Eggs on Cats: What They Look Like and How to Kill Them

Flea eggs on cats are pearly white ovals about half a millimeter long, and the black specks owners mistake for them are flea dirt. Learn to tell them apart, what actually kills eggs, and how long reinfestation takes.

Webvet Editorial Team

Jul 26, 2026

Most popular in Parasites

Botfly (Cuterebra) in Dogs and Cats: Warbles, Removal and Prevention

December 1, 2025

Praziquantel for Dogs and Cats: Tapeworm Dosing, Side Effects and OTC Options

November 27, 2025

Flea Collar for Cats: Do They Work, Are They Safe, and Which to Choose

September 23, 2026

Best Flea and Tick Prevention for Cats: Vet-Reviewed Options

July 12, 2026