Pesky parasites
With each passing day temperatures climb higher and higher, and with the heat comes some little creepy crawlies that can pose a threat to your pet’s health. Fleas and ticks are like little vampires that feed on the blood of cats and dogs. Sometimes they can suck so much blood from pets that they can cause them to become anemic, thus causing many other health problems for pets.
They can carry diseases that are spread to our pets through their saliva. Once an infected flea or tick bites a healthy pet to feed from them, the health may become infected. Some of these illnesses are actually smaller parasites that live inside fleas and ticks.
Believe it or not, some of these diseases are zoonotic. A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be spread from animals to people (such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever). Some of these zoonotic diseases are extremely dangerous and if not detected and dealt with in a timely manner, may become fatal.
Fleas like to carry tapeworms. If your pet has ever been diagnosed with tapeworms, at some point in their lives they have had a flea infestation.
If you have ever noticed what looks like to be sesame seeds or grains of rice around your pet’s hind end, there is a good chance that he or she may be infected with tapeworms. When fleas are in their larval stage, they feed on a variety of random things wherever they dwell.
Many times they ingest tapeworm eggs that were in the environment. As the flea matures it carries the tapeworm eggs with it to adulthood.
When the flea jumps onto a cat or dog and bites them to feed, the cat or dog will bite at that area and may accidentally swallow the tapeworm egg infected flea.
Once in the cat or dog’s digestive system, the tapeworm begins its lifecycle and begins to literally suck away life-giving nutrients from the pet.
We all know just how annoying mosquitos are, especially when they bite. Mosquitos may carry tiny parasites called microfilaria, which is basically a fancy word for baby heartworms.
Just like fleas and ticks, mosquitos feed on blood.
Once a healthy pet is infected with heartworms from the bite of a mosquito, over time the microfilaria will mature and may cause some serious and very dangerous heart problems for your pet and if not properly dealt with may cause the pet to lose his or her life.
Other parasites, such as round worms, actually look similar to spaghetti in their stool.
Puppies most commonly get round worms from their mother while in the womb or from their mother’s milk. In very bad cases, round worms have been found in the lungs of cats and dogs.
Some common signs to keep a watch for with parasitic infections would be: diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, swollen belly, swollen and/or sore joints, dull fur coat, and fever. As mentioned several times before, it is very important to make sure that you and your pet have a very good relationship with your local family veterinarian.
If you suspect that your pet is being eaten alive by these bad bugs, please have them seen by their doctor right away!
Only a veterinarian can diagnose and treat diseases and infections. When pets see their family vet often, the doctor can easily prevent and treat illness before any issues become life threatening, therefore preventing your pet from having to endure any unnecessary pain or suffering. Make sure to speak with your local family vet about starting your pet on a routine parasite preventive regimen.
For extra protection against fleas and ticks, it would be wise to contact a local exterminator to have your home and yard sprayed once a month. Spending just a few extra dollars each month will ensure that your pet is happy, healthy and parasite free.