When thinking of the word parasite, many things come to mind. None of them are good.
No one likes a parasite. Though they have evolved to exist and live beside or within the hosts they plague, they remain unloved and unwanted. And that is just fine by me.
This common repulsive feeling is as natural as the relationship between these type bugs and their hosts. The parasite’s goal is to live in conjunction with the animal they live upon or within. They must coexist and obtain some benefit from the host organism in order to survive, multiply and procreate. They don’t wish any major harm to come of the host, as it is often their meal ticket. After all, the word “parasite” is derived from the Greek word “parasitos” meaning “one who eats at another’s table”. Nevertheless, I want to focus on how these naturally evolved bugs can be prevented or controlled, keeping our beloved pets and ourselves as free of them as possible. Let’s look at two little vampire type parasites, fleas and ticks.
It is fairly likely that our pets will become infected with a blood sucking parasite, such as a flea or tick, at some point in their lifetimes. Fleas are capable of jumping up on to dogs and cats from the environment they both share. They are very pernicious and establish infestations in our homes and yards relatively quickly if their arrival goes undetected, especially if the pet has not been using appropriate and effective preventative measures.
Ticks are less common in the urban landscape, but not absent. They fall or jump down from brush or bushes onto the pet. These bad guys can affect your pet in a variety of ways, ranging from simple irritation to transmitting health-threatening conditions if left untreated. If you hike or go for woodland walks with your dog from spring through autumn, your friend is more at risk of ticks than you might think. Most flea products will also have an effect vs ticks, but not all do, so ask your vet professional for advice. Removing ticks takes some practice.
Fleas are small active insects that live and breed on the skin and fur coats of our pets. They are hard to spot since they move rapidly and scurry along on the skin beneath the fur. But their effects and discomfort created while on the pet are more obvious. Itching, scratching and chewing at the body are classic potential signs of a flea problem.
The flea species commonly seen on the dogs of our area is actually the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Our flea season can be year round in Seattle due to our mild climate. It truly kicks into a higher gear from May through November most years. It is essential to understand the flea life cycle in order to be most successful at preventing fleas from infesting your pet and its home. Your veterinary team is the most informed about this important concept and what you can do to control these annoying pests. The flea is a blood feeder in its adult form, and the females are quite prolific with the ability to lay upwards of 50 eggs per day for 3-4 weeks when feeding consistently on our pets. That is a prolific parasite and a very disgusting pest!
Although your cat or dog may be harboring fleas, they are not always easy to find at first glance.
To check for fleas or their droppings:
Briskly comb a section of hair on your pet’s back while they are sitting on a white piece of paper. If your dog has fleas, black flecks that look like dirt (as a result, we use the term “flea dirt”) will fall onto the surface for you to see clearly. If you transfer these black flecks to a damp piece of paper towel or tissue, in a short time they will appear red or rust-colored. (The red color results because blood sucked from your dog is partly digested and passed in the flea’s waste matter. If the dirt specks do not turn red, then they are probably just plain old dirt.)
To treat flea infestations:
You must stop flea from reproducing and thus break their life cycle. Carpets, pet bedding, furniture, and other indoor areas where your pet spends much of its time will contain the highest number fleas in their immature stages. Frequent vacuuming (throw the vacuum cleaner bag away afterwards) and regularly washing pet bedding can greatly reduce the number of developing fleas inside your home. In some cases, home premise insecticide spraying or even professional pest control help (e.g. Flea Busters) may be necessary once an infestation has been established indoors.
To avoid fleas infesting your home and yard:
Proactive prevention is the best solution, and it starts with treating your pet regularly during flea season. Safe, convenient monthly flea treatments (either topically applied skin products, or tablets/chews by mouth) are available under the guidance of your veterinarian and should be used routinely even before fleas are present in the pet’s environment.
Remember that each and every pet has a unique and individual lifestyle and environment. Your veterinarian can help you customize a complete parasite prevention program that best fits you and your family’s particular needs. Discuss how to be proactive against all potentially unhealthy parasites with your veterinary health team and then select what is right for you. Making sure your pet is on a year-round parasite control program is best for your furry friends and their people, no doubt.
Mark Donovan, DVM
Ravenna Animal Hospital