There are a few common external parasites that will have an impact on our dog’s quality of life and health. Fleas, ticks, mites and lice are the most common. Read on to learn how to deal with these pests!
Fleas:
Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on blood. They can live both on pets and in the environment. Signs that a pet has fleas are itching, hair loss, and skin irritation.
To prevent your pet from getting fleas, you can use oral or topical flea preventatives, keep your pets environment clean, and regularly wash your pet’s bedding.
Ticks:
Ticks will attach themselves to the skin and feed on blood. There are not obvious signs that a tick is feeding on your pet, which is why you must carefully inspect your pets skin, especially warm skin folds. Ticks do not harm animals directly but can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease.
To prevent your pet from getting ticks, use oral or topical tick preventatives. Dogs should be checked for ticks after all outdoor activities, and all ticks found should be promptly removed.
Mites:
Mites are highly contagious- they can live on skin, and also burrow into skin. They can cause skin conditions such as mange or demodicosis. You can tell that your pet has mites because it causes intense itching and irritation.
To prevent mites, use oral or topical mite preventatives. Stressful conditions can also increase an animal’s risk of mite overgrowth.
Lice:
Lice live on hair and cannot survive in the environment. They are highly host-specific, meaning you don’t need to worry about catching lice from your pet. Signs that your pet has lice are itching, hair loss, and skin inflammation.
To prevent lice, use oral or topical lice preventatives. Topical products should not be used on cats. All animals of the same species should be treated.
Preventative products:
Many veterinary products (Such as Bravecto, for all external parasites, and Advantix, for fleas, ticks, and lice) can help prevent external parasites. These products should be regularly used to help keep your furry friends free from pests.
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