Did you know?
- Dogs often get parasites at some point in their life?
- Did you know parasites can exist on your dog’s skin or internally?
- Some parasites can infect and transmit diseases to humans.
- Do you know how you can help protect your dog?
It isn’t uncommon for a dog to become infected with internal or external parasites at some point in its lifetime. Parasites can affect your dog in many ways, ranging from simple irritation to causing life-threatening conditions if left untreated. Parasites not only affect your dog, but also the safety of you and your family. Some parasites such as fleas, ticks and internal worms can infect and transmit diseases to people.
Prevention is the key to keeping our pets safe. Your veterinarian can accurately diagnose your pet for parasites and advise you on the best method of prevention for your pet. If your pet is infected, your veterinarian may also advice you on the best method for treating parasites on your dog.
Prevention:
Your veterinarian may recommend a topical or oral year round prevention plan. Topical parasite prevention like Frontline plus, K9 Advantix II for dogs and Advantage Multi protect against fleas, ticks (most types), and chewing lice. Advantage multi is also a topical treatment that also prevents against heart worm disease. Oral preventatives like Trifexis and heartgard treat external parasites such as fleas, ticks and lice but also protect against internal parasites like heart worm, whip worm and hookworm.
Treatment:
Treating Parasites is not as easy as preventing them. Treatment of external parasites may begin with a flea and tick dip or a shampoo like Adams Plus Pyrethrin Dip or Ecto-soothe 3x shampoo. Then your veterinarian may suggest either a topical or oral treatment that will kill and prevent parasites from re-infesting your dog, but treatment doesn’t end with your dog.
You may also need to treat your home and the areas where your dog spends most of its time in order to get rid of fleas and ticks and prevent a re-infestation. Home foggers like knockout room and area fogger go a long way and lasts for up to 7 months. Using a spray like frontline flea and tick spray is excellent for treating parasites spot on; such as your dogs bed area, the couch, your rugs and can even be used on your pet to kill any fleas that try to hang on. If your dog spend most of its time in the yard it’s essential to treat your yard with a solution like Virbac Yard Spray.
By treating your pet, their area and the yard your family will win the battle against parasites and get rid of fleas. Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations and have your pet tested for parasites annually to protect your dog and your family from potentially harmful parasites all year long.
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