Protect your dog from parasites, inside and out

Your dog is a part of your family, so protecting their health is a big priority. To protect your dog means getting up to speed on the common internal and external parasites. They go beyond being an annoyance to you and your pet – they can have serious health implications.

And as the seasons change, so do the risks for parasites. Warmer weather often increases the risk for common parasites, especially external critters like fleas and ticks. The good news is, if you stay on the lookout for signs and symptoms, and prioritize treatment, you can easily maintain your dog’s quality of life.

Fleas on dogs: What to know
When it comes to parasites and dogs, your mind probably goes to fleas first, and for good reason. Fleas are the most common external parasite to affect dogs and unfortunately, they’re a year-round challenge – especially in the spring and summer months, when the population explodes.

Bites from these tiny insects can be a big annoyance for your dog. Itching and scratching are common signs of fleas on dogs (fleas can cause humans to itch, too). Those signs of fleas can also develop into flea allergy dermatitis, an allergic reaction that can make itching more intense, cause hair loss and raised bumps on your dog.

Fleas breed quickly and often. During warmer weather, one female flea can lead to 1,500 fleas in just two or three months. Their eggs, larvae and pupae (the cocoons with pre-emerged fleas) lurk all around, in the yard, parks and woods and inside your home, in carpets, floorboards and furniture. When young adult fleas emerge from their cocoons, they hop onto your dog to take a blood meal.

Because of this, stopping fleas in their tracks starts with the adults, before they can lay eggs. When looking for fleas on your dog, check their skin and haircoat. Regular preventative treatment for your dog will help control adult and immature fleas.

Let’s talk ticks
Like fleas, ticks are active all year-round (whenever the temperature is above freezing), but they’re most abundant from spring to autumn. Regardless of season, ticks are harmful to your dog.

And like fleas, ticks feed on your dog’s blood. In their case, though, ticks pierce your dog’s skin and embed themselves, sucking blood over several days. Unsurprisingly, this means skin irritation is a sign of a dog with ticks. They may also develop painful abscesses and for small dogs, ticks can even lead to anemia.

But the risk with ticks goes further than that. They can transmit infectious pathogens that cause serious, sometimes fatal, diseases.

Lyme disease is one of the better-known illnesses that come from ticks. The symptoms of Lyme disease include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, arthritis and swollen lymph nodes. Others are Babesiosis, which affects red blood cells; Ehrlichiosis, which affects the white blood cells and immune system; and Anaplasmosis, which can lead to flu-like symptoms. Each of these are risky to your dog’s health in different ways.

So, how do dogs get ticks in the first place? Ticks come from vegetation, like trees and grass in the countryside, parks and woods. As your dog passes by, they latch onto your dog.

There are many different tick species, so if you’re planning to travel, talk to your veterinarian about specific risks in the area you’re visiting. If you love spending time with your dog in the great outdoors, be sure to regularly check for ticks. Ticks look like small spiders, and are visible to the human eye, though small. If you’re looking for a tick on your dog, run your hand through their fur and you’ll feel a small bump.

To put your mind at ease, though, ask your veterinarian about preventative treatment options that protect your dog from ticks.

What about heartworm disease in dogs?
Parasites also affect your dog’s insides. There are various internal parasites, but heartworm in dogs is the one that has the most serious consequences.

Yet another annoying insect – mosquitoes – transmit heartworm. When an infected mosquito bites a dog, it can deposit heartworm larvae into its skin tissues. Then, it takes about six to seven months for the larvae to travel to the dog’s heart chambers and/or the blood vessels that supply their lungs.

Signs of heartworm in dogs appear slowly over weeks or even months. At first, your dog will tire easily and show shortness of breath or coughing after exercise. In later stages, the coughing and fatigue will happen when the dog is at rest, too.

Warmer climates have traditionally been risky for heartworm, but the southern halves of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are all risk zones. If you are travelling, it is a good idea to check if the area you are visiting is a heartworm-endemic spot.

Preventing heartworm in dogs is critical – if left untreated, it can be fatal. Talk to your veterinarian about preventative treatment for heartworm and other internal parasites that may affect your dog.

Protecting your dog from parasites, inside and out, isn’t difficult. Monthly preventative treatments can help protect your dog from parasites. With the right knowledge and support from your veterinarian, you and your dog can avoid health issues and enjoy the weather