By Our dogs have become an integral part of our life and we treat them just like our babies. Like all the hoomans babies, dogs also have to deal with teeny tiny wiggly and blood-sucking parasites that are inside and on the surface of their cute little furry bodies. So today we are going to talk about some of the biggest threats that are sucking the life out of your pooch slowly but surely! Dogs and parasites are so synonymous together that most pet parents who haven’t done proper research before getting a puppy, go through hell while trying to understand this issue.
Prologue:
I will give you my own example here. When I got Bacardi as a puppy, I hardly saw any ticks on him. I knew nothing about deworming or topical shots for ticks and I was in my own sweet bubble of puppy fever. Things changed when Bacardi got a benign lump at 8 months and that scared the bejesus out of me. We got it removed and felt a relief as we got things done on time. Then one fine day, I found a huge grey bulb-like lump on his ear and started panicking and thought his benign lumps were back.
We took him to his vet and when I showed her the lump, she calmed me down and told me that this wasn’t a lump but a female tick who was having a feast and was full with my poor pooch’s blood. She also showed me how to remove such ticks and the fact that these female ticks are always accompanied by a tiny black male tick. Once they are done with the blood-feasting, they lay thousands of eggs and also cause tick fever.
Today we will talk about dogs and parasites and everything in between. Right from the infestation to the treatment.
Types of Parasites:
There are two major kinds:
Over the Skin: Ticks, Fleas, Mites.
Ticks:
These creepy crawlers come in different kinds, shapes and genders and will wreak havoc in your life. They tend to multiply quickly and suck up a lot of blood. They also cause two extremely deadly diseases in dogs and humans alike- Lyme disease and tick fever. A lot of puppies have succumbed to the tick fever and other adult dogs suffer from Babesia and other deadly diseases. There are various types of ticks and the most popular or unpopular tick, so to speak is the deer tick. It is a creepy-crawly spider-like tick that is responsible for a lot of problems like vomiting, fever, rashes and Babesia. If not treated on time, they tend to infest the house of the dogs as well.
Treatment:
There are a couple of ways you can get rid of ticks. Tick collar, tick powder, tick shampoo or a topical spot treatment are the most common ways you can eliminate these suckers. There are medicines or tablets that are subscribed by vets that if ingested, keep the ticks away.
Fleas:
Like ticks, fleas as infect the dogs and multiply in dozens. Before you know it, your dog will scratch away to glory and get a lot of rashes in and around the infested area. These tend to infest the surroundings so it is essential to get the bedding and other items cleaned thoroughly.
They are to dogs what lice are to us hoomans. Fleas look like dirt on the fur and that is how you can identify if your
Treatment:
You can treat them also like ticks. There are collars, topical spots, shampoos and tablets that prevent the infestation. These are usually covered in the tick treatment options only. If it still persists then you can contact your vet.
Inside the Body: Worms
Worms: Tape Worm, Round Worm, Hook Worm, Whip Worm, Heart Worm
Deworming is an integral part of a dog’s life. These worms eat away your pet’s health and might lead to complications. Roundworms are some of the most common parasitics that are found in dogs. Tapeworms come from other infected food or fleas that sit on items and lay eggs that turn into these creepy worms that look disgusting. Whipworms and Hookworms mostly live in the intestine and colon and can cause anaemia in puppies that could prove fatal. They also tend to lose weight due to these worms and that can also lead to a lot of complications. Heartworms are super life-threatening and can cause trouble in breathing as well.
Treatment:
Deworming is essential at every stage of your dog’s life. They have to be given in monthly or quarterly intervals as per your vet’s advice. It is essential to kill the larvae or eggs with medicines if you dog hasn’t been dewormed on time.
Dogs and parasites have an inevitable relationship and it is vital to understand the harmful repercussions of not dealing with them the right way. You need to eliminate all these parasites to help your dog lead a healthy and fulfilling life. The most important thing is to consult a vet that guides you well and charts out all the necessary prognosis and treatment for the same.
If you are thinking of adopting a pet and don’t know what kind of foods to give them, here’s a blog on all the Safe and Toxic Food For Dogs in 2020.
