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RUFF GUIDE: pesky parasites

RUFFGUIDE

fleasThe word alone spreads fear into the hearts of pet parents everywhere. The most common problem associated with fleas in our pets is flea allergic dermatitis (FAD). This itchy condition is caused by your pet’s reaction to the saliva that is injected into the skin when a bug bites. To make things worse, fleas don’t just cause itching and irritation — they can actually carry and transmit bacteria and other parasites (like tapeworms, ick!).

ticksAlthough tall grass and wooded areas tend to be higher risk for ticks, city and suburban areas also harbor them. Besides being ruthless little blood-suckers, ticks actually carry and transmit a number of diseases to our pets — including Lyme, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, hepatozoonosis, feline cytauxzoonosis, babesiosis, tularemia (aka rabbit fever), anaplasmosis — the list goes on and on!

heartworms When a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae bites a dog, the worms migrate through the body until fully grown. Initially the worms live in the arteries around the lungs, but eventually back up into the right chambers of

the heart, where they can cause heart enlargement and congestive heart failure. Unfortunately, dogs show no symptoms in the early stages of heartworm disease. As the condition progresses, you may notice a slight cough and exercise intolerance. In severe cases, persistent coughing, weakness, trouble breathing and fainting can occur. Adult heartworms can measure up to 14 inches, and dogs with severe heartworm disease can harbor more than 50 worms! It is important to note that heartworm disease affects cats, too — even those who spend most of their time indoors. Because it only takes one mosquito bite to transmit the disease, it’s essential to protect your feline family members, too — there is no treatment for heartworm disease in cats. Detecting the disease is particularly frustrating in our feline friends because clinical signs often mimic other conditions. Often times, sudden death occurs without warning.

preventionAll of the pests mentioned above are entirely avoidable when pet parents take the proper precautions. Flea, tick and heartworm preventives are a must — not just in the spring and summer, but every month of the year. Most heartworm preventives also contain medications for intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms, and sometimes more depending on the brand. Ask your

the scratch on parasites that pester our pets

They creep, they crawl — they can make our pets miserable! Parasites are the pits. Even if your pet never puts a paw outside, he or she can still pick up some pesky pests. In this month’s Health Tip, we worm our way into the world of bugs to give you the buzz on preventing parasites. Read on as we dissect pests like fleas, ticks and heartworms (oh, my!).

dr. kim smyth explains common conditions caused by tiny biters

sniff out more info on this topic! Visit the url below or scan the code at right.www.GoPetplan.com/Jun2014-health-tip

june | bug off!

1.866.467.3875 • GoPetplan.com • GoPetplan.ca

RUFF GUIDE: pesky parasites

RUFFGUIDE

sniff out more info on this topic! Visit the url below or scan the code at right.www.GoPetplan.com/Jun2014-health-tip

veterinarian which brand of preventives he or she recommends for your individual pet.

costs As is usually the case, preventing parasites is less expensive than treating problems; annually, flea/tick preventives cost between $200-$500 and heartworm preventives cost about $50-150. Compare that to the typical costs to cure conditions caused by parasites:

fleas In cases of flea allergic dermatitis, it may be necessary not only to treat for the fleas but also to put the pet on anti-inflammatories to reduce the initial itch. Shampoos, fatty acids and other non-prescription products can also be recommended. Animals with secondary skin infections will also require antibiotics. This can all wind up costing you up to $300.

ticks The cost to treat the different illnesses spread by ticks varies, but hospitalization, supportive care and medications can all be necessary, making for one pricey problem. If your pet contracts a tick-borne disease, expect to pay in excess of $300-1,000 to resolve the problem. heartworms Heartworm disease is very expensive to treat — costing up to $1,500 per dog. Remember that there is no treatment for heartworm in cats, and if not properly protected against infection, your feline friend could wind up paying with her life!

Parasites and other pests are some of the most common complaints veterinarians see in pets. Take the proper precautions to keep your furry friend’s environment clean and safe — NEVER skip a dose of preventives — and you’ll nip these nuisances in the bud before they can become a problem for your pet!

kim smyth, dvm has authored hundreds of veterinary articles, pet health essays, breed profiles and blogs. She is the leading contributing expert on Petplan’s Vets for Pets blog.

meet the expert

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for next month’s tip on heat stroke, ‘surf’s up!’

intestinal parasites: worming their way in

Intestinal worms are parasites that take up residence in the gastrointestinal tracts of dogs and cats. Go to www.GoPetplan.com/Jun2014-health-tip to learn a few common types. To avoid intestinal parasites, routine deworming is the standard of care for all dogs and cats. Puppies should be dewormed every two weeks beginning at two weeks of age through eight weeks of age, and the same goes for kittens beginning at four weeks of age. Adult pets should have a yearly screening fecal test to ensure there are no parasitic infestations — yet another reason to be sure to keep your annual wellness appointment!