Parasites in Dogs — Types, Prevention, and Treatment

You may do everything possible to protect your dog and keep them healthy and happy. However, according to the Companion Animal Parasite Council, many dogs will be infected by parasites at some time in their life. If not diagnosed early, these minute microscopic organisms spread illness and cause major health problems in dogs such as anemia, gastrointestinal disturbance, excessive weight loss, and blindness.

To safeguard your dog, you should know common parasites in dogs and how to treat each of these harmful organisms. In addition, pet owners should be aware of two types of parasites in dogs: internal and external parasites.

Internal parasites, which are common in the form of worms, can be transmitted in various ways but reside inside the body and can harm a pet’s organs. They often get into a dog’s body after being consumed and affect the gastrointestinal tract. Roundworms and hookworms are the most frequent examples of internal parasites in dogs.

On the other hand, external parasites nestle in or climb up a dog’s body and feed on its blood. The most prevalent external parasites that infect dogs are fleas and ticks. Ticks may spread several serious and life-threatening infections, such as Lyme disease, Babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. While fleas can make a dog unpleasant and itchy, they can also cause more serious complications. For example, anemia and severe dermatitis can result from flea infestation.

Symptoms of parasite infestation in dogs vary according to the type of parasite. Veterinarians recommend that pet parents practice year-round prevention and conduct regular external checks. A pet owner should do all in their power to prevent a parasite infestation before it begins.

By putting your pet on heartworm, flea, and tick preventative, you keep them safe and avert worse problems later. Treatment for parasites will vary according to the kind of parasite infection, and pet owners should see their veterinarian to determine the best treatment choice for their pets.

Your veterinarian may prescribe a deworming treatment to treat internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Many dewormers may be used orally and prescribed by veterinarians or purchased over the counter without a prescription. Most of them must be repeated every two to three weeks to interrupt the life cycle and prevent us from getting it from the same source time after time.

Therapy for heartworms is more complicated and frequently includes a period of stabilization with steroids, heartworm preventives, and antibiotics before the real treatment to kill the worms begins. The heartworm preventive is a drug that should be given once a month to keep heartworms from infecting them when a mosquito bites them. Your veterinarian may suggest surgery in severe cases of heartworm illness.

Flea and tick preventative drugs are the most efficient strategy to safeguard your pets since they are excellent at treating specific intestinal parasite diseases in dogs once delivered. These drugs can be supplied orally, topically, or by collar-like items. You can keep your pet safe and avoid potentially expensive deworming procedures by using continuing preventative medicine.

Originally published at http://ianoldaker.wordpress.com on January 28, 2022.