Fleas on Dogs
Fleas on Dogs
We love to keep pets – the companionship and the enjoyment we get from caring for a cat or dog is something that cannot be found elsewhere – yet fleas on dogs are an almost ubiquitous problem, just as the tiny parasites affect cats to such a great degree, too.
Fleas are everywhere; these microscopic and very resilient creatures are said to affect every single dog and cat at some point during its lifetime (and in most cases more than once) and treating them is made more difficult still by the absolutely minute size.
Fleas On Dogs : Creatures Feed on the Animal’s Blood
The problem with fleas on dogs is that the creatures feed on the animal’s blood; in young dogs especially this can lead to added infection as the fleas cause blood problems and other infections which can lead to serious illness and even death in very young animals.
Dogs that associate with others are likely to contract fleas by contact; fleas cannot fly yet they have an amazing ability to jump more than 200 times the length of their body, a feat that is not matched by any other creature. This means they can easily transfer between hosts, and that they spread very quickly indeed.
One problem that is prevalent in flea infestations on dogs – and in fleas on humans, too – is that some can be subject to allergenic reactions to the presence of the creatures. This is another way in which the parasites can cause greater problems if they are left untreated.
Fleas are not just a minor problem, therefore, but one that should be treated with a serious intent. If you have more than one dog then the fleas will undoubtedly spread between the animals, making successful treatment ever more important.
Getting rid of fleas is best done by way of one of the many insecticide treatments available from vets and pharmacies widely, and these are known to have very successful results. Further help can be given by frequent and thorough vacuuming and keeping the animals washed, while combing through the hair of the pet can allow you to see fleas as they fall off onto a carefully placed sheet of white paper.
Any animals that are suspected of having fleas should be kept away from others until the infestation is known to have been destroyed, while any suspected cases of fleas need to be diagnosed quickly and correctly, and the very best possible treatment administered as quickly as possible.
How to treat fleas on dogs?
Use Advantage – For Dogs & Puppies For Fleas on dogs! Advantage is a long-lasting, once a month topical flea treatment. This over-the-counter formula is for puppies and dogs 8 weeks or older. Advantage contains imidacloprid, this fast acting flea preventive stops fleas from biting in 3-5 minutes, begins killing fleas within the first hour of application and eliminates 98%-100% of adult fleas within 12 hours of use. The ingredient imidacloprid works by affecting the flea or tick’s nervous system. Because Advantage works fast and has been found to be ideal for dogs suffering from Flea Allergy Dermatitis.
All About Fleas.
Bed Bug Treatment of Signs & Symptoms
Bed Bug Treatment of Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Bed bug bites will usually affect only the skin surface. Bed bugs inject an anticoagulant to keep your blood flowing as they suck, along with a numbing agent to keep you from feeling them while they are feeding off of their victim. The bites appear as small itchy red bumps known as papules or wheals. If you find the bumps in a linear or clustered fashion this usually indicates repeated feedings by a single Bed bug. Bed bugs do not carry pathogens like ticks and mosquitoes. Bed bugs aren’t known to spread disease to humans, although they may be carriers of the organisms that cause hepatitis B and Chagas’ disease.
Adult Bed bugs are generally flattened and reddish brown in color. They closely resemble apple seeds in appearance and size. Newly hatched nymphs look very much like the adults of the species but they are almost colorless. The reddish brown color is gained as they mature. The adult Bed bug is capable of laying up to 5 eggs daily. These eggs are extremely hard to see with the naked eye and resemble a speck of dust on a dark surface.
Bed bug treatment as pertains to bites is aimed at relieving symptoms. Bites usually resolve within one to two weeks. Topical creams can be used to relieve itching. Those with cortisone or a similar ingredient work well. Scratching should be avoided if at all possible to prevent infection. Consult your doctor if you have severe reactions. Some people are actually allergic to Bed bugs. An oral antibiotic may be recommended if infection occurs. Oral corticosteroids may be recommended for severe allergic reaction. Antihistamines are suggested to help relieve allergic reactions symptoms. A rare possibility exists that anaphylactic shock may occur as an allergic reaction to the substances the Bed bug inject while feeding. Bed bug bites do not normally require medical attention. They will go away in a few days. If you have bites that do not go away or that look infected, see your doctor for Bed bug treatment.
When trying to prevent Bed bugs some factors to consider that will increase your chances of a Bed bug infestation are climate, type of housing, and living with pets in your home. Bed bugs love tropical areas, although they are not limited to these areas. Infestation is more likely in apartments and homeless shelters where there is a high turnover. This is much more so than in single-family homes. Pets like cats and dogs can carry Bed bugs right into the home.
Because of their small size of less than one fourth of an inch Bed bugs can hide in the seams of baggage when you travel or boxes shipped from an infested source. College dorms, hotels, motels, shelters and even apartment complexes are a great food source for the Bed bugs. Anywhere where there are plenty of mattresses and warm blooded bodies are the favorite spots. Even renting to a new roommate could be an invitation to Bed bugs. The Bed bugs can come along in boxes, bags and hidden in furniture. Use of a high quality Bed bug spray is a good idea for frequent treatment in any hotels, motels, personal dwellings and anywhere Bed bugs could pose a potential problem.
If you suspect Bed bugs are already present in your home and you haven’t been able to get rid of Bed bug yet, wearing nightclothes that cover as much skin as possible is a viable option until you can kill Bed bugs living in your home. Look for these signs that will let you know that Bed bugs are present:
- Small bloodstains on sheets and mattresses
- Specks of blood behind wallpaper or other sites of heavy infestation
- Insect excrement at the entry to hiding places in furniture crevices and walls
- A strong pungent odor caused by Bed bugs’ oil secretions
Mites
Mites or Bed Bugs?
Mites are a collection of tiny creatures that live as parasites on both humans and animals, and are members of the arachnid family along with spiders. They are a common pest all across the world and are very widely spread, and are particularly troublesome when found on domestic pets such as cats and dogs, and on us.
There are several types of mites that like to exert their parasitical living style, and among the most problematic is the scabies mite. One of the more disgusting facts about the scabies mite – which is not uncommon on humans – is that it burrows into the skin to lay its eggs; this action results in a tiny silvery line that appears to be on the skin, the giveaway sign of the scabies mite.
On animals the problems occur when large numbers of the creatures congregate, and create a condition that can be very nasty indeed called sarcoptic mange; this results in loss of hair and severe skin infection for the creature concerned and is particularly prevalent in dogs.
The problem in humans is known as scabies, and results in a very ugly and irritating rash that can spread to many parts of the body and become so severe it may affect the sleeping patterns of the infected.
Another very common type of mite that is found abundantly in our lives is the house dust mite, a particularly annoying creature that is difficult, if not impossible, to see. It lives among the dust that settles on household objects – it is that small – and affects us as it causes an allergenic reaction in the respiratory system; this can be very dangerous in some cases, and it is helpful for sufferers of such as asthma if they do everything to keep the chances of the dust mite affecting them down.
To get rid of dust mites entirely is thought to be impossible, for they are simply too small and too mobile; the best advice is to carry out regular hoovering and cleaning and to do away with as much carpet and soft furnishings – the mites chosen habitat – as you can. The subject of how to get rid of scabies mites is another thing entirely, and involves the application of insecticide lotions and creams that kill the insects and their eggs, and enable to the patient to live a normal life again.
Skin mites have been with us for millions of years and, as we are seeing, are unlikely to be eradicated during our lifetime or in the foreseeable future.
