By Hillary Frank, DVM, ABVP (Avian)

    No matter how careful you may be most pets will have external parasites such as fleas, ticks or mites at some point in their lives. These parasites can be extremely irritating to pets and cause serious skin disorders. They can also spread dangerous diseases to both your family and your pet.

    Fleas are bloodsucking, wingless insects that look like a flattened sesame seed. They thrive with warm weather and humidity. Normally only adult fleas live on pets, and 95 percent of the flea population are in either the egg or larvae stage in the environment. As a result, you can have a substantial flea problem even if you find only a few fleas on your pet. Signs include black peppery “flea dirt,” biting, scratching, and areas of skin irritation. Fleas also can carry tapeworms, transmit Bubonic plague, and cause life-threatening anemia. Fleas will also bite people.

 

Ticks may look like a small wart or a seed attached to your pet. They are not only an irritant and nuisance to your pet, but may also transmit several debilitating diseases, such as Lyme disease, babesiosis (malaria-like parasitic disease), and ehrlichiosis (sometimes referred to as tick fever). Prompt removal of ticks is very important because it decreases the chance of disease transmission from the tick to your pet. During your pet’s daily grooming, carefully remove any ticks, but avoid contact with tick fluids that can carry disease. Annual testing of dogs for the two most common tick transmitted diseases is needed.

    Mites are microscopic insects that can affect the ears or skin of pets. Some mites only cause symptoms when the pet’s immune system is decreased. Others cause severe itching and hair loss; a pet may injure itself by scratching.

    The mosquito also is a parasite that can transmit serious diseases including heartworm. Even indoor-only pets can be exposed to these tiny insects. Annual testing for heartworm is needed, as well as monthly preventive treatment.

    Because a pet may have a thick coat and many of these insects are quite small, many parasites can be present before you become aware of them. Because of scientific research, modern medicines make detection, treatment, control, and prevention much easier now than in the past.

    If you find your pet scratching frequently, or if you discover bald spots or inflammation of the skin, parasites can be one of the common causes. Effective parasite control must often include cleaning and treatment of both the pet and the environment. Cats are very sensitive to certain pesticides. Your veterinarian can recommend the most appropriate external parasite prevention and treatment program for your pet.

Hillary Frank, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Avian) is the owner of North Central Animal Hospital, P.C., 20 W. Dunlap Ave. She can be reached at 602-395-9773. The information in “Pet Primer” is provided as general information only. For specific advice on your pet’s health, consult your veterinarian.