Dogs of every age are vulnerable to external and internal parasites. Once infected, a dog will show several symptoms based on the host’s parasite species, immunity level, and density.
A cross-sectional study, “Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminths of Dogs and Associated Factors in Hawassa City of Sidama Region, Ethiopia,” was conducted between March to July 2021. The objective was to estimate the associated factors and prevalence of dog gastrointestinal helminths.
The study focused on 385 dogs and examined their feces through the flotation technique. Most dogs were affected with helminthiasis. It posed a serious concern for their health. And other than practicing good hygiene, dog owners must know about internal and external parasites.
What Are Parasites in Dogs?
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), a parasite is an organism that resides in or on the host body. It resides at the cost of the host. The two types of parasites in dogs are:
1. External Parasites
The American Kennel Club considers lice, ticks, and fleas as external parasites. The impact is more than a mere nuisance. Fleas carry and spread dangerous ailments like tapeworms. Ticks cause bacterial illnesses like Ehrlichia and Lyme disease. It also leads to skin irritation, making your pooch very comfortable.
2. Internal Parasites
According to the American Kennel Club, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and tapeworms are internal parasites. It gets into the dog’s intestinal tract and causes major discomfort by robbing essential nutrients.
A dog with an internal parasite will have stunted development and growth. Similarly, internal parasites weaken their immune system and shut down the crucial body system when left untreated.
Heartworm is a fatal parasite that adversely affects a healthy pet. It gets spread by mosquitoes and damages a dog’s lungs and heart within very little time. A few common symptoms of internal parasites in dogs include:
- Sudden weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Intestinal blockage
- Pot-bellied appearance
- Blood in stool
A few dogs show no symptoms. Hence, dog owners need to get their pooches tested annually for parasites.
Dog Parasite Prevention: The Solutions at Hand
Many preventive measures can secure your furry friend from getting affected by tick and flea infections. Choose what best caters to your dog’s lifestyle and needs. The two crucial options are:
1. Oral Tablets
It’s given to dogs once a month. As the parasites bite, it consumes the medicine and dies.
2. Spot-On-Treatments
It gets applied every month between the dog’s shoulder blade. It kills ticks and fleas on contact.
Revolution for Pets is a vet-approved dog medication that secures pets from multiple external and internal parasites. It’s a 6-to-1 parasite killer that treats 6 parasites when applied for a month.
According to Petcarerx, a brand specializing in online pet supplies, dog owners should ensure their pets don’t rub off the medicine. After the application, the pet should roll against household items or on the floor. The pet needs to stay in one place and not play immediately after applying the medicine. Also, the treated pet must maintain a distance from untreated pets for about 24 hours. It makes the medicine more effective.
How to Prevent Your Pets From Getting Affected by Parasites?
Maintaining good hygiene will prevent parasitic infections. It includes daily hand washing after playing with them. A few other prevention hacks include:
- Get your dog groomed daily to avert coat contamination.
- Check for ticks and fleas on the dog’s coat after you have spent time outside.
- Ensure cleaning up dog feces as the larvae and eggs in it transmit intestinal parasites.
- Don’t make your dog eat pet raw food because of a parasite risk.
- Make regular visits to the veterinarian for daily deworming four times a year.
- Opt-in for preventive medicines like tropical medicine or using a tick and flea collar.
- Considering an ingestible preventive is also helpful.
Internal and external parasites will result in extreme discomfort in your dog. It will affect its quality of life. A veterinarian will guide you about the correct preventive measures depending on your pet’s medical history and exposure.
Conclusion
Prevention goes a long way in matters of external and internal parasites. Fleas have tapeworms that result in allergies. Ticks have pathogens that cause Babesiosis in dogs. Taking note of your dog’s behavior and knowing the signs will prove beneficial.
Leaving your dog unattended and untreated will prove to be life-threatening. Even if your dog doesn’t die, it will vastly affect its entire quality of time, giving rise to recurrent medical expenses. It will add more obstructions to your daily life as well.
Pet owners should check the dog’s body once after they have returned from a walk. Checking whether they caught anything from another animal or grass is essential. Once generic symptoms like weight loss and diarrhea manifest, seeking the correct medical treatment is essential.
