Topic of the Month

7/2010: Fleas, Ticks, Worms and Mosquitos

Spring is here! The time has come to worry about what kind of trouble your pet can get into outside when it comes to parasites. The good news is you can start defending your pet today.

TICKS

The most common diseases your pet can contract from ticks are Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis. Though it is very rare for cats to get these specific ones, there are some tick-born diseases that cats can contract. Felines tend to groom themselves so frequently that ticks have a tuff time staying on long enough to attach themselves. Dogs can be exposed to these infections in almost any outdoor location where deer ticks and brown dog ticks can be found. It is recommended to vaccinate your dog against Lyme disease if he/she spends a lot of time outdoors, such as when camping or hunting.

Diagnosing can be difficult because signs aren't often present. The most common signs of infections are loss of appetite, lack of energy, and swollen or painful joints. We can, however, run a simple blood test to see if your dog has been exposed. If that test is positive, we will run additional tests to identify the extent of the infection and other related health conditions. A parasitic disease screen is recommended at every annual checkup.

If caught and treated early, the outcome is usually very good for a full recovery. Some of these infections cannot be cured completely, but early intervention usually provides the best prognosis. Products such as Frontline provide a long period of effectiveness to kill fleas and ticks within hours when they come into contact with the treated animal's skin.

These diseases CANNOT be transmitted directly from your dog to you or and your family. However, if ticks are found in your area, your family can be at risk just like your dog. To reduce the risk, inspect your pet and yourselves several times a day when enjoying outdoor activities.

FLEAS

Fleas are a nuisance - and sometimes painful problem - to your pet. The adult fleas you may see are only the tip of infestation iceberg. Immature fleas are hard to see, but may be found anywhere an infested pet has been. They may thrive in unseen areas of the home such as carpets, bedding, and cracks in flooring. And, contrary to popular belief, fleas don't only live in warm weather. They can reproduce indoors year-round.

• Only 5% of fleas are in the adult stage, which live up to 120 days
• 10% are pupae, which can survive up to 174 days
• 35% of fleas are larvae, which last 5-11 days
• A massive 50% are only eggs, which will hatch within 10 days

MOSQUITOS

Mosquitoes carry the silent and often fatal Heartworm disease. It is highly recommended to protect your pet against this disease, typically using a monthly preventative such as Heartgard for dogs and Revolution for cats.

DOGS

A mosquito transfers heartworm larvae from an infected dog to your dog. The larvae develop into worms that live in the heart and its vessels, as well as the lungs. If left untreated, heartworm disease may be fatal. Over 250,000 dogs in the U.S. were reported positive for heartworms in 2004. The reason it is such a scary disease is because at first, there are no signs. Then, there may be coughing, sluggishness, and reduced appetite. With disease progression comes heart failure, lung disease, or sudden death.

CATS

A mosquito transfers heartworm larvae to the cat. When the larvae develop into adult heartworms, they eventually die and cause severe inflammation that can be fatal. Most larvae don't make it to adulthood in cats, which means they die in the cat's lungs. The irritation leads to heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). Most cats with early-stage disease experience HARD signs. Rather than affecting the heart, the larvae affect the lungs and cause breathing problems often mistaken for asthma or bronchitis.

Just because you have an indoor cat does not mean it's not at risk. There is no guarantee that a mosquito won't buzz into your house through an open door or window, and it only takes one bite to do the damage. Preventatives are encouraged for use on both indoor and outdoor cats. If you'd like more information on easy to use preventatives, please contact your veterinarian.

 

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