Not only do parasites make life uncomfortable for your puppy, they are also detrimental to his health – and yours! The good news is that it is possible to keep your pet free of these nasties, by preventing and treating him for ticks, fleas, worms and mange.
TICKS
Contraction method Infested mammals drop ticks into the environment and pets pick them up. Ticks are especially found in tall grass.
Symptoms The bite itself is not usually painful, but the parasite can transmit diseases like babesiosis and ehrlichiosis (tick-bite fever), which can be fatal.
Prevention Use a residual pesticide that is registered for the treatment of ticks on dogs.
Treatment Remove ticks. Any tick-borne diseases should be treated by a veterinarian.
FLEAS
Contraction method Fleas are all over; they come from the environment and other infested animals. Most of the flea population (eggs, larvae and pupae) are found off the pet and in the environment.
Symptoms Itching and other skin problems. Fleas can transmit diseases and other infestations like tapeworm.
Prevention The ideal flea control programmes are to use products that target all the various stages of the flea lifecycle, and also treat the pet’s environment. Treat all pets with a monthly flea control product. Vacuum all carpets and upholstery to get rid of flea eggs and then discard the vacuum bag. Treat the environment with a product that is safe for pets.
Treatment The transmitted diseases need to be treated by a veterinarian. Use preventative treatment.
MANGE
Contraction method There are two types: demodectic and sarcoptic. All dogs raised normally by their mothers will have Demodex mites, which are transferred from the mother to the puppy. Most dogs never suffer any consequences from being parasitised. If the animal becomes stressed or immunosuppressed, the mites may proliferate and cause skin disease. Rarely can it be transmitted between dogs. Sarcoptic mange, however, is highly contagious and can spread from pet to pet.
Symptoms Sarcoptic mange is very itchy, but demodectic mange is usually not itchy initially. Secondary skin infestations can result in itching and hair loss, along with crusting and scaling of the skin.
Prevention Ensure pets are healthy and fed a good-quality diet. Don’t breed with dogs who have, or have had, demodectic mange.
Treatment Ivermectin (off-label use).
ROUNDWORK AND HOOKWORM
Contraction method Dogs get worms by consuming worm eggs from soil that is contaminated with dog faeces in the environment (generally through normal grooming or self-licking). Infested mothers can infest their puppies. Also, infestation can occur by consuming prey (usually a rodent) that is carrying developing worms. Lastly, when an infested mother dog is pregnant, puppies are infested during embryonic development (in fact, most puppies are infested this way).
Symptoms Infestations can be completely without symptoms but can cause diarrhoea, possibly vomiting, and weight loss, especially as the numbers increase. Very large amounts of worms may cause an intestinal obstruction.
Prevention Remove and discard dog faeces promptly before worm eggs permanently contaminate the soil. Regularly deworm your dog.
Treatment Deworm with one of the many products that are available on the market (ask your veterinarian if you are not sure). A once-off treatment will not be sufficient to clear an infestation, as the medications essentially anaesthetise the worm so that it lets go of its grip on the host’s intestine and passes out with the stool. Once it has been passed, it cannot survive in the environment and dies. But the larvae that are still migrating to the intestine are not affected and will replace the old worms. Therefore, a second and possibly even a third deworming are needed two weeks apart.
