Ectoparasites in dogs and its control

Unfortunately your dog faces some unwelcome guests from time to time, seeking lodging and food inside his/her coat. These pesky critters can cause severe discomfort, and in extreme cases this may lead to injury or even death.

Dog Fleas

Fleas can live in house carpets and covered furniture but usually contracted from time spent outside or with other animals. They are usually only an annoyance for most canines.

Dog Lice

Lice can infest dogs by the thousands. This will cause severe itching and discomfort. The dog will need veterinary intervention to get rid of them.

Dog Mites

This parasite causes an illness that is called mange. Demodectic or 'red' mange causes small and hairless, irritated patches on the dog’s coat. Sarcoptic mange or 'scabies' produce extreme itching along with hair loss. Mites sometimes also enter the ears of the dog where they cause a big amount of discomfort and unavoidably produce bacterial infections. A veterinarian must treat mites as soon as possible.

Dog Ticks

If your dog has ticks, remove them with tweezers. Try to avoid touching the fleas as they can transmit disease to humans. Ticks can be killed by immersing them in alcohol. Don’t forget to check your dog for ticks after you have taken him/her for a walk in the woods. Deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease, and this can lead to neurological and cardiac failure.

Detecting Dog Fleas

Every time you give your dog his regular grooming session, it is very important that you carefully examine his coat and skin. Apart from cleanliness of skin and coat and pleasant smell, you should also check to make sure that he is not playing host to any type of parasite that could trigger the start of various diseases and several other problems.

Prevention and Natural Remedy for Dog Fleas

Dog fleas are more common during spring and summer. There are a number of ways you can cure your dog of fleas.You can either use an insecticide dip, a dog flea spray, an anti-flea drug, a dog flea collar, or a dog flea shampoo. When using any kind of dog flea treatment, you should check your dog’s skin for any sign of allergic or sensitive reaction. Also, talk to your vet before starting any kind of dog flea treatment to puppies and older dogs. Puppies should never wear dog flea collars, nor should they be powdered until they are at least eight weeks old. In addition, dog flea treatment for older dogs may be more challenging because certain changes associated with aging make them bad candidates to certain dog flea chemicals. Older dogs are also prone to dog flea allergy called dermatitis.