Parasites such as roundworms, hookworms,
tapeworms, whipworms, and heartworms can make a
home inside your pet and rob your animal of
vital nutrients, leading to poor appetite, loss
of energy, serious anemia, and even death.
Puppies and kittens are especially susceptible.
Parasite infestation can be controlled and
prevented. Your veterinarian can tell you about
the extent of the parasite problem in your area.
Simple diagnostic procedures can be performed.
From time to time most pets have parasites such
as fleas, ticks, lice, or mites. It's simply in
the nature of things, parasites being parasites.
The pests abound everywhere; therefore, their
presence is not a disgraceful reflection on
one's living habits. It is, of course, not
necessary simply to accept such a state of
affairs. Because external parasites can be
extremely irritating to a pet and cause serious
skin disorders or even disease, you have an
obligation to rid your pet of these unwelcome
guests if they are infested with them.
Yet external parasites, like squatters, are
tenacious and difficult to "evict." They are not
always discernible to the unpracticed eye and
are therefore sometimes present in great numbers
before you become aware of them. If you find
your pet scratching frequently, or if you
discover bald spots or inflammation of his skin,
chances are your pet is playing host to an army
of non-paying boarders. And it's high time for
you to take him to the veterinarian.
The Adaptable Flea
The flea is an acrobatic pest that is adept at
finding a warm place to live, jumping readily
from dogs to cats or even human beings. The life
cycle of the flea is about 30 days. The eggs are
dormant in cool weather, but, with the advent of
milder days, they hatch into worm-like larvae
which eventually become fleas. The best way to
rid your pet of fleas is to see a veterinarian
for advice. They may recommend powders, sprays,
dips, specially treated collars, or even tablets
to be taken internally — whatever the
veterinarian's prescription, you should take
care to follow their instructions exactly.
It will do little good to rid the pet's body
of fleas if you don't simultaneously cleanse
their sleeping quarters and other equipment.
Aerosol sprays can be used for this purpose with
excellent results. Regular and thorough vacuum
cleaning of the pet's living area also helps to
remove eggs, larvae, and pupae. Getting rid of
fleas not only makes your pet more comfortable,
it also reduces their chances of acquiring
tapeworms since many fleas harbor tapeworm eggs.
Lice Not Nice
Lice are not just aesthetically unpleasant, and
therefore, not "nice" but, they can become a
source of danger for your pet — especially to
puppies. Often dogs with just a few lice are
very "itchy," while those harboring thousands of
lice may not scratch themselves at all. So small
they escape notice, some lice penetrate the
pet's skin and suck the blood. The females will
lay eggs which in just three weeks will hatch
and develop into adult lice.
The constant blood-sucking, if extensive, can
cause severe anemia in puppies and greatly
weaken mature dogs, particularly females with
nursing puppies. The pest can also be a source
of irritation to cats and kittens.
Your veterinarian is your best resource to
detect and eventually eliminate this dangerous
Mites and Manges
Mange is caused by another type of external
parasite — the mite. Fortunately, mange is rare
in the well-fed, well-kept cat.
In dogs, two types of mange are the most
common: DEMODECTIC mange or "red mange," and
SARCOPTIC mange or "scabies." They may be
present at any time of the year.
Dogs suffering from demodectic mange usually
do not scratch. This mange is most common in
young short-haired animals and is marked in the
early stages by small areas of hairlessness,
accompanied by a red, irritated appearance. In
sarcoptic mange, a severe itching is usually
observed, with consequent skin irritation and
loss of hair. This type of mange is contagious
to people as well as to other dogs and therefore
should be checked as soon as possible.
It should be remembered that mange is more
serious than a simple skin irritation or
abrasion or a source of discomfort to your dog —
though it certainly is that. Both of these
manges are serious skin diseases that can lead
to complications such as severe skin infections.
Veterinarians usually treat mange by clipping,
medicated baths or sprays, as well as oral
medication or injections.
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