Parasitic infections can cause your dog to experience a range of uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening symptoms and conditions. Here, our Fairhaven vets discuss how to prevent parasites in dogs and why controlling these issues is important.
What are parasites, and how do they affect dogs?
Parasites are small pests that live either on your pet's skin or internally, depending on the type. These parasites live strictly off of the blood and vital nutrients provided by your pet's blood.
Some cause irreversible, severe damage to your dog's organs. Many dog parasites include hookworms, heartworms, tapeworms, lice, ticks, and fleas.
In this post, we'll examine some common parasites in dogs and explain why parasite control is essential to their health, as well as how your vet can help.
How do parasites infect their hosts?
Other animals often do not infect dogs directly. Parasites contracted through animal feces can be passed down from mother to child before birth. These parasites can also be transmitted through the bite of an infected insect.
Commonly Seen External Parasites in Dogs
External parasites live on your dog's skin and will bite them to feed. The two most common are fleas and ticks:
Fleas
Fleas are an external parasite that depends upon a host animal for survival, in this case, your dog. Once these tiny parasites have made themselves at home on your pet, they will multiply at an astonishing rate. Some estimates calculate that for every adult flea you find on your pet, there may be 100 or more immature fleas hiding throughout their coat. Not only that, but if your pet has fleas, there is a good chance that these parasites also invade your home, hiding in carpets and soft furnishings.
Many dogs are allergic to the proteins left behind when fleas bite, which causes the bite area to become intolerably itchy. When this happens, pets often scratch and groom excessively, leading to raw, damaged patches of skin, fur loss, and, in some cases, infections. Additionally, there is an additional danger that infected fleas can transmit tapeworms to your pet.
Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that rely on 'hosts' for transportation and food. A host is a person or animal the tick lands on and begins feeding on. Ticks feed on the blood of their hosts, including humans and animals.
This parasite is common around the world, and many different species are found across North America. Each type of tick comes with serious risks to pet and human health. Tick saliva contains a variety of germs and bacteria that can be transmitted to the animals and people they prey on. These bacteria can lead the host to develop conditions such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Canine Bartonellosis, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, alpha-gal syndrome, or Lyme disease.
Common Internal Parasites Diagnosed in Dogs
Internal parasites live in your dog's gastrointestinal system and feed on them from the inside. Some of the most common internal parasites are:
Roundworms
Roundworms are a common parasite in pets. As the name implies, large roundworms live in the intestines and cause ascariasis. Kittens and puppies generally become infected with roundworms through nursing and can catch contact with this parasite by eating the larvae found in the feces of other infected animals. Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means humans can also become infected with roundworms.
If your pet has roundworms, you may notice symptoms such as diarrhea, lack of energy, weight loss, or vomiting. There may be no signs of infection in pets with few worms present, but you may see them in your dog's stool or vomit. Since roundworm infection symptoms aren't always easy to spot, it is essential to have your pet attend routine wellness exams at your vet's office and have yearly fecal exams.
Tapeworms
These are flat, long, segmented parasites that attach to the walls of the small intestine. The Dipylidium canine species most commonly infect dogs, but several types are known to infect pets. Most pets get infected by swallowing a flea infected with the tapeworm, which can quickly happen while grooming or responding to flea bites.
Heartworms
Heartworms, or Dirofilaria immitis, are protozoan parasites that live in dogs' hearts, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels. Infected mosquito bites transmit this disease; when eggs enter your pet, the larvae travel through the bloodstream for several months, finally settling in the heart and pulmonary arteries.
Heartworm infections go undetected for months until the condition reaches more advanced stages when damage to the pet's internal organs has already begun. Treatment for heartworm disease is available; however, it is toxic to the pet and can be very expensive. For this reason, many pet parents find themselves having to make the heartbreaking decision to euthanize cherished pets diagnosed with heartworm disease.
How are parasites prevented?
Naturally, after discovering how many parasites our dogs can contract and their potential health effects, pet owners' next question is, 'How are parasites prevented?'.
Routine vaccinations are the best way to prevent several illnesses caused by parasites. Your vet will be able to advise you of a schedule for inoculation. Make sure your dog goes for an annual wellness check so your vet can test for infestation.
There are also a number of parasite prevention products on the market to help deter the parasites from calling your dog home.
Why is parasite control important in dogs?
Parasites can pose a significant danger to even the healthiest dog. That's why parasite control for dogs, including a variety of parasite prevention practices and products, is vital to protect your pooch and your family.
Along with routine wellness exams, parasite prevention is vital to ongoing healthcare. During your pet's annual exam, your veterinarian in Fairhaven can check your dog for any signs of parasites and recommend parasite control measures or products that would be suitable for them based on your location, your dog's risk factors, health status and more.
We are also happy to address any questions and concerns you have about parasite prevention and control.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.