By Michael Lamping, DVM
Murphy Road Animal Hospital

Veterinary examination of new pets, especially puppies and kittens, from pet stores, breeders, and pet adoption facilities is encouraged shortly after you acquire them.  This prevents you from accidentally bringing home parasites such as mites, fleas, ticks, ringworm, and intestinal worms which could be spread to other pets or to people. 

One example of a very common external parasite is ear mites.  The veterinarians at Murphy Road Animal Hospital diagnosed ear mites on 40 patients in 2006.  These patients included cats, dogs, ferrets, and rabbits.  Especially common in cats, Otodectes cynotis infestations are spread by direct physical contact between animals and frequently affect all susceptible animals in a household or colony.  Rabbits are vulnerable to a related mite, Psoroptes cuniculi.

To read more about this condition, click "Full Story"