Parasites on Dogs

Heart worm, fleas and other parasites in dogs need to be eliminated by using the relevant medication on them. Many products have come onto the market to protect dogs from heart worms, fleas and other parasites like hook worms, whip worms, round worms, lice, ticks etc.

Of the heart worms, fleas and other parasites, fleas can produce a hyper sensitive reaction in the affected animal. Animals infested with fleas scratch their skin very vigorously. Frequently the scratching is so bad that the skin becomes super-sensitive and dermatitis occurs in the scratched areas.

The result of a serious flea infestation is often that the animal can not lie down for long or sleep properly due to the persistent flea bites. So, your dog looks as if has some serious skin issues. If the your dog is not properly treated for these flea bites, there could be a secondary bacterial attack in these areas and there may even be a rotten smell coming from the affected area of the animal’s skin.

You have to observe your pet closely in order prevent a serious infestation of fleas. However, it is essential to avoid such a serious outbreak as they are extremely distressing to your pet. Similarly, the skin of the animal has to be inspected regularly for the presence of ticks and lice. In order to do this effectively, you need to inspect the dog’s skin by separating the dog’s hairs. The easiest way to achieve this is by slowly back-combing or ruffling the animal’s hair.

Usually, if your pet is anaemic, and he is not infested with fleas, you need to check for hookworm. Symptoms of hookworm are anaemia, loose stools and a pot belly. The dog’s owner may recognize these symptoms themselves, however, to be honest, the dog needs to undergo a routine health examination at the vet’s involving faecal and hematological examinations.

There are many commercial products available on the market, some of which are effective for dealing with all these conditions in a single dose. Drugs like ivermectin are highly efficacious and are obtainable in injection, oral and solution forms. The latter should be put directly on the dog’s skin. These drugs can lead to the prevention of the above conditions too.

So, the best policy to adopt is to keep a keen watch on your dog. This could very easily be carried out at bath time and when you are brushing him. You can use an anti-flea and anti-tick shampoo, which will keep these pests at bay, if used regularly. Couple this with regular grooming with a lice comb and the use of a flea collar should keep your pet flea, lice, and tick free.