Dog Skin Parasites – External Parasites and Their Treatments
WHAT IS A PARASITE?
External parasites are pretty common among dogs. A parasite is an organism that lives off the resources your dog has to offer: namely, fresh blood (which most parasites drink) and a warm place to stay (in and on the skin and fur).
What are the common parasites that might affect my dog?
There are a wide range of parasites that affect dogs:
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Mites
– Demodex Mites (demodectic mange)
– Sarcoptic Mites (sarcoptic mange, scabies)
- Lice
All of these parasites cause adverse reactions in your dog: typically, itching and inflamed skin, a dull coat, and bald spots. In advanced cases, your dog may develop anemia (blood loss) and become generally debilitated (particularly if he or she is very young, very old, or suffering from another condition).
In addition to this, many parasites convey secondary and internal parasites to your dog – for example, fleas usually carry the common tapeworm (which causes constipation and flatulence), and ticks can cause a variety of much more serious problems like Lyme’s disease and paralysis.
In this article, we’re going to be looking at fleas: what they are, how to tell if your dog’s affected, and how to get rid of them.
A CLOSER LOOK AT FLEAS
Fleas are without question the number-one most common external parasite affecting dogs. They’re small, jumping insects that are light brown in color, although humans generally can’t see them – they move much too quickly for that!
Fleas live off your dog’s blood. The life cycle of a flea moves very rapidly from stage one (egg) to stage four (adult flea), which means they’re capable of multiplying with staggering rapidity.
An adult flea lays hundreds of eggs per day. Each egg will then become an adult flea, which lay hundreds more eggs of its own. One flea becomes a major problem very quickly!
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS FLEAS
The symptoms of a flea infestation are unmistakable.
A dog with a flea infestation will scratch almost constantly, often at areas that fleas seem to favor: the ears, the base of the tail, the belly, and the stifle (the webbing of soft skin between the thigh and the abdomen).
It’s actually the saliva of the flea that causes the irritation, not the bite itself, and some dogs have a genuine allergy to this saliva (as opposed to a standard irritation). Dogs with allergies suffer much more significant negative reactions to a flea infestation, and usually develop “hot spots”.
These hot spots are areas of sore, inflamed, flaking, bleeding, and infected skin, caused by the flea saliva and your dog’s own reaction to it. Bald patches will sometimes develop too, from repeated scratching and ongoing inflammation.
If you think your dog has fleas, you can confirm your suspicions by taking a closer look at his skin: you probably won’t be able to see the fleas themselves, but you should be able to see what looks like ground pepper (a thin sprinkling of fine black grains) on his skin. This is flea dirt (poop).
If you groom him with a flea comb (which is like a fine-tooth comb), try wiping it on a paper towel: if red blotches show up on the towel, you know that your dog has fleas (on a white background like a paper towel, flea poop shows up red: since fleas subsist on blood, their poop is colored accordingly).
TREATMENT FOR FLEAS
Because fleas only spend a small amount of time actually on your dog, and the rest of their time leaping through your house laying eggs and feeding on human blood, it’s not enough to just treat the dog: you also have to target his bedding, the entire house, all human bedding, and the yard (yes, fleas lay eggs all through the yard, too. Even if it’s cold outside, you’re not necessarily off the hook: cold weather doesn’t kill flea eggs, it just puts them into a state of hibernation. The eggs will hatch as soon as it gets warm enough outside.)
You’ll need a broad-spectrum treatment which kills not only the adult fleas (which are the ones that bite), but also any developing fleas, and the eggs.
PREVENTION IS THE BEST (AND THE EASIEST!)
Prevention is definitely the best cure – you should keep your dog’s flea treatments up to date with the use of a calendar, and use a treatment that’s prescribed by the vet. Off-the-shelf treatments aren’t recommended, since different dogs require different strengths depending on their size, age, and activity levels. A particular benefit of prescribed flea treatment is that most are also designed to prevent other parasites (like mites, ticks, and heartworm) from affecting your dog.
For the best pure flea, tick, and mosquito prevention you can get without a veterinary perscription, we recommend K9-Advantix (Ain’t No Bugs on Me)
6 Month Supply
Advantix K9 Flea Killer Plus, Teal,11-20 lbs. 6 Month Supply
Advantix K9 Flea Killer Plus, Red,21-55 lbs. 6 Month Supply
Advantix K9 Flea Killer Plus, Blue,Over 55 lbs. 6 Month Supply
12 month Supply
Advantix K9 Flea Killer Plus, Teal, 11-20lbs.12 Month Supply
Advantix K9 Flea Killer Plus, Red, 21-55lbs. 12 Month Supply
Advantix K9 Flea Killer Plus, Blue, Over 55lbs. 12 Month Supply
FOR AN EXISTING INFESTATION
If your dog already has fleas, you have two options:
- You can ‘bomb’ the house and yard with a flea-pesticide. These come as foggers (which coat each room, and the yard, in a fine mist of pesticide) and sprays (which are applied manually to each surface throughout the house and yard), and although they’re very effective in killing fleas and eggs, there’s one major drawback: they’re highly toxic to humans, dogs, and the environment. Depending on your priorities, this is probably the quickest solution to a flea problem (and will effectively wipe out the eggs, too) but if you have anyone in the house with allergies or a health condition – including pets! – you might want to think again.
- Many people prefer a more health-friendly alternative is to target the dog with a topical anti-flea solution prescribed by the vet (like Advantage or Revolution), and to rigorously clean the house on a regular basis until the flea problem has gone. This means vacuuming each room thoroughly each day – put a flea collar in with the vacuum bag to kill any fleas that get sucked up – and wash all human and dog bedding in hot water as often as you can (once every day or every two days is recommended). You’ll be able to tell when the problem’s gone because your dog won’t be scratching, and his coat will be clear of flea dirt when you inspect it.
My favorite solution (links below) is to use a combination of Capstar which is a tablet you give your dog which will kill all of the live fleas on your dog within 8 hours, combined with Sentinel which is a flea preventative that prevents flea larvae from reaching maturing. It also has the added bennefit of preventing heartworm as well as treating hookworm, whipworm, and roundworm. Combined with proper cleansing using a good shampoo such as Earthbath Tea Tree Oil, your dog should be free from fleas in no time. Sentinel requires your dog be tested for existing heartworms by your veterinarian and thus requires a perscription. You may buy Capstar using the link below:
WHAT NOT TO DO ABOUT FLEAS
- Don’t use multiple products on your dog – it’ll make him sick, since you’ll be overloading his system with toxins.
- Don’t forget to treat all the animals in the house at the same time: cat and dog fleas are interchangeable, and if one animal has fleas, they all will have them, even if some are not displaying the symptoms.
- Flea collars are no longer recommended as a safe option for flea prevention, since the collars are highly toxic – vets have realized that placing a toxic material directly against your pet’s skin for long periods of time (flea collars have to be worn 24/7 to be effective) is detrimental to your dog’s health.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PARASITES AND THEIR TREATMENT…
Fleas are just one of the many, many types of parasites that affect your dog. To find out more about the complete prevention and treatment of all types of parasites (external and internal), as well as a comprehensive guide to all aspects of dog health, take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.
This book is an invaluable resource for the responsible dog owner, and will help you to ensure that your dog remains happy and healthy – just the way you want him to be!
You can visit The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health by clicking on the link below:
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/
Or:
Read my review of The Ultimate Guide To Dog Health
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Categories: Dog Obedience Training Tags: demodex, demtectic, dog, flea, fleas, mange, mite, mites, parasite, skin mite, skin mites, tick, treatment
How To Cure Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety
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Is Your Dog Suffering From Separation Anxiety?
Did You Know?
Separation anxiety is one of the most common problems that dogs develop. It’s an anxiety disorder, and is defined as a state of intense panic brought on by the dog’s isolation/separation from her owner(s).
In other words: when you leave for work in the morning, your dog is plunged into a state of nervous anxiety which intensifies extremely quickly.
There are a number of contributing causes to the condition:
- Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards anxiety and insecurity, which is something you should consider when deciding which breed you’re going to go for (particularly if you’re going to be absent for long stretches of time). A few of these breeds include Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales
- A significant proportion of dogs from shelters develop separation anxiety. Most of these ‘shelter dogs’ have undergone significant trauma in their lives – they’ve been abandoned by their previous owners – and thus they have little trust that their new-found owner (you) isn’t going to pull the same trick.
- Dogs that were separated from their mothers and siblings too early have been identified as being especially prone to separation anxiety. Puppies from pet-stores are a perfect example of this: they’re usually taken from their mothers well before the earliest possible age (which is 8 weeks), and confined to a small glass box in the petstore for anywhere between a few weeks to two months. This early weaning, coupled with the lack of exercise and affection while in the petstore, is psychologically traumatic for the dog.
- Neglect is the number-one cause of sepration anxiety for dogs. If you’re absent much more than you’re present in your dog’s life, separation anxiety is pretty much inevitable. Your dog needs your company, affection, and attention in order to be happy and content.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize your dog’s tendency towards anxiety
If you’re interested in getting a more detailed look at how to deal with your dog’s separation anxiety, you might like to check out SitStayFetch.
It’s a great learning tool for anyone who wants to learn how to deal constructively with their dog’s problem behaviors.
All of the common behavioral problems are dealt with in detail, and there’s a great section on obedience commands and tricks too.
You can visit the SitStayFetch site by clicking on the link below:
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Categories: Dog Obedience Training Tags: dog, dogs, puppy, separation anxiety
What Can I Use to Stop My Dog From Digging Up Plants
Thanks to this powerful system, thousands of dog owners have successfully solved their dogs digging and other behavioral problems.
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From: Steve Warshaw
Is Your Dog’s Destructive Digging Ruining Yard?
Here are some of the more common reasons that a dog will dig:
- Lack of exercise. Digging is a good way for a hyped-up, under-exercised dog to burn off some of that nervous energy.
- Boredom. Bored dogs need a “job” to do, something rewarding and interesting, to help the time pass by.
- Digging is often the ideal solution for a bored dog: it gives him a sense of purpose, and distracts him from an otherwise-empty day.
- The need for broader horizons. Some dogs are just escape artists by nature – no matter how much exercise and attention they get, it’s nearly impossible to confine them. For a four-legged Houdini, it’s not the digging in itself that’s the reward, it’s the glorious unknown that exists beyond the fenceline.
- Separation anxiety. To a dog that’s seriously pining for your company, digging under those confining walls represents the most direct path to you. Separation anxiety is an unpleasant psychological issue relatively common among dogs
For whichever reason your dog digs, there is good news! Your dog is perfectly capable of learning not to digup your yard… It’s just going to take a little time and effort on on your part.
If you want to learn what it really takes to stop your dog’s behavior problems now, using the fastest and healthiest methods that exist – then you have to hear everything I’m going to share with you. It’s that important.
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Dog Digging and Chewing Discipline
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Is Your Dog’s Destructive Chewing Ruining Your Home or Yard?
Did You Know?
-
Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. It’s fun, it passes the time, and it’s a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity (for example, if she’s chewing on something that tastes good.)
-
Chewing provides a nervous, bored, or lonely dog with an outlet for her emotions. To an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is soothing – it’s the doggie equivalent of comfort food.
-
Under exercised dogs often use chewing as a way of burning up nervous energy and giving themselves something to do.
Whichever reason your dog chews, there is good news! Your dog is perfectly capable of learning not to chew up your stuff… It’s just going to take a little discipline on your part.
If you want to learn what it really takes to stop your dog’s behavior problems now, using the fastest and healthiest methods that exist – then you have to hear everything I’m going to share with you. It’s that important.
You’re about to learn comprehensive information on the following:
- fixing any dog behavior problem
- tips and secrets to use in your everyday dog obedience training
- specific commands and tricks to teach your dog
- the best way to select, buy and raise a new puppy or older dog
Watch This Amazing Success Story
Get A Free, 6 Day – Online Obedience Training Course
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Categories: Dog Obedience Training Tags:
How Do I Teach My Dog To Fetch?
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Dear
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Need to stop your dog from trying to fight with other dogs? Learn the best ways to break up dog fights and prevent them from ever happening again.(page 84-86) |
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Categories: Dog Obedience Training Tags: