An Explanation of Veterinary Anti-Parasitic
Choosing the Right Medication
When choosing which medication to use, it is best to
consider the individual dog, their risk level, parasites and
diseases prevalence in your area, as well as any current
or future travel plans. For example, if your dog frequently
travels to regions where heartworm prevalence and tick-
borne diseases are common, then treating with good
intestinal/heartworm prevention alongside an effective
flea and tick product monthly would be recommended.
To determine your dog’s risk to certain parasites it’s
important to do your research and to use your
veterinarian as a resource! I recommend checking the
parasite prevalence map (petsandparasites.org), this
site demonstrates which parasites are showing up in
your area by province or state, providing the most up-to-
date information to help you decide what your dog’s risk
is and what class of medications you may need to
prevent disease in your dog. Your veterinarian can be a
valuable resource to understand the diseases present in
your area and has the knowledge about potential
adverse effects that can occur using your pet’s previous
medical history and breed predispositions.
Tapeworms are present across Canada. They are flat, segmented
worms that live in the small intestine. There is often an intermediate
host (rabbit, domestic herbivore, etc.) that a dog will consume that has
infective cysts, resulting in infection. Clinical signs of tapeworm
infection may include weight loss and diarrhea. Still, case reports are
present with dogs presenting for "tumour-like" masses in the abdomen
due to the presence of encysted tapeworms! The primary drug
available to treat tapeworm in dogs is praziquantel, which can be found
in several oral formulations, including Drontal® and Interceptor
Plus®. In conjunction with preventative medication, owners should
also be mindful of other control measures, including avoiding feeding
contaminated raw meat, preventing dogs from scavenging on hunted
wild animals and controlling fleas.
K9FORCE | FEBRUARY 2025