Heartworm, fleas, and other parasites in dogs need to be eliminated by following appropriate medications in them. Many products have come up in the commercial fields to protect the dogs from heartworms, fleas, and other parasites like hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, lice, ticks, etc.
Among the heartworm, fleas, and other parasites, the fleas produce the hypersensitive reactions in the affected animals. Hence, the animals infected with fleas start severely scratching of body. Many times, the scratching is so severe and the skin becomes more hyperemic and dermatitis occurs in the affected areas.
An animal will not lie down or sleep comfortably due to the constant bites by the fleas. Hence, the animal looks as if affected by some severe skin disease. If the animal is not properly attended for this tick bite problem, there will be often secondary bacterial invasions in these sites and there may even be a bad smell emanating from the skin areas.
Close observation of the dog is highly essential to rule out the occurrence of fleas disturbing the animal to a greater extent. Similarly, the skin of the animal needs to be tested for the presence of ticks, lice, etc. For this, the hair materials need to be separated and the close observation with patience is required for the proper diagnosis.
In many incidences, if anemia is present, the blood protozoa need to be ruled out in addition to the hookworm problems. The clinical problems like anemia, loose motion, potbelly, etc. might be recognized by the dog owners themselves and however, the dog needs to undergo the routine health-related examination involving fecal examination, hematological examination, and blood smear examination.
Many commercial products have come up in the market, which is useful to deal with all these conditions by a single dose. Drugs like ivermectin are highly useful and are available in both injection and oral form in addition to the solution form that can be applied on the skin. These drugs in dogs can lead to the prophylaxis of these conditions also.
Heartworm prevention
Beef flavored chunks are available in addition to the beef flavored tablets or solutions that can be given orally to the dogs as a measure against the incidence of heartworms. Avoid mosquito bites by providing proper mosquito-proof shelter facilities to the dogs.
Just plan whether there is any need to go for the heartworm prevention throughout the year or only in some months of the year. For example, in the case of some countries, the mosquitoes may be dormant in most of the colder months.
However, in some countries, this is not a position. Many times, medications are available for oral administration to prevent heartworms along with hookworms, etc. Such oral medications need to be taken as per the instructions. However, be cautious about the occurrence of any adverse drug reactions in the dog given with such prophylactic therapy.
Adverse event reports need to be sent if you come across any sorts of adverse drug reactions in your dog during the preventive treatment.
Soft beef flavored tablets are highly preferred by the pet animals as the preventive measure against heartworms. The pet owner needs to consult a veterinarian if the dose for the prophylaxis of heartworm is missed for a few months. On such occasions, the pet animal needs to undergo the heartworm test.
Heartgard, sentinel, interceptor, revolution, etc. are available in the commercial fields as drugs for the preventive measure. Avoid water stagnation around the dog shelter and the bushes around the area that facilitate mosquito breeding. This test needs to be carried out in consultation with a veterinarian who is specialized in pet animal health care and medicine.
As a preventive measure for the heartworms, the dogs need to be tested for the evidence of these worms at an age of six months. Real beef chewable tablets are available containing medical agents like ivermectin.
Common questions about heartworm
The common questions about heartworm are often related to the species affected by heartworms in addition to the dogs. One should know that in addition to dogs, the cat, fox, wolf, horse, sea lion, etc. are also affected. Can this be cured or not? Yes. This can be treated.
What is the drug used often for the prevention of heartworm in dogs? Ivermectin is the drug used often to have preventive actions for these heartworms. Dogs affected reveal constant coughing, panting, and dullness on many occasions.
What will be the size of the worms? In the case of the females, it is about twenty-seven centimeters and in the case of males, it is about seventeen centimeters in length. Is there any vector involved in the transmission of the disease? Yes. Mosquitoes often get associated as
vectors in which the early development of larvae of heartworms occurs in them.
Is the prophylaxis meant only for heartworms or others also? The prophylaxis is meant not only for the heartworms but also for the hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms. What is the infective type of larvae that is associated with the transmission of these heartworms? The third stage larva that is transmitted by the mosquito bites.
This occurs throughout the world. In some areas, the incidences are less in colder months in which the mosquito breeding will not be there and might be dormant during these periods. What is the name of the drug used for therapy and prevention? Ivermectin and milbemycin oxime may be used for both purposes. Ivermectin is available in injection form and oral form.
Additionally, the forms for external application are also available. The cost factor needs to be worked out for all these treatments. What is the frequency of drug used for prophylaxis? One month before the mosquito season and up to two months after the mosquito season, ivermectin or milbemycin oxime may be given once monthly for the prophylaxis. Diethylcarbamazine may be used for therapy purposes.
Fleas and other parasites
Fleas and other parasites need to be given always a priority by the dog owners. The common incidences of flea bite allergy in the case of dogs cause worries among the dog owners. Flea bite induces allergic reactions in the concerned area bitten by the fleas. Hence, the affected area looks like a hairless area and the animal starts scratching.
Fleas cause severe dermatitis in dogs with severe flea infestations. Many times, the flea bite causes allergic reactions in the dogs. On many occasions, dogs experience severe discomforts due to these allergic reactions. Medicated collars are available to treat and prevent the infestation with external parasites like ticks or fleas.
Other parasites like ticks, lice in addition to the internal parasites like hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, etc. cause affections in the health status of the animal. For example, if hookworm affects the animal, most of the time, the dog has anemia. The anemic signs become more prominent depending on the degree of affection by the hookworm.
Hookworm larvae can pass directly through the skin and cause problems in the affected ones. Such dogs may reveal lesions pertaining to dermatitis in the feet region and in the skin areas. Skin rashes may be seen frequently in such cases and the affected animal passes loose stool, which is a red-tinged and mixed with blood material.
If the roundworms are seen in more numbers, the affected puppies reveal a potbelly condition, which is easily recognized by the dog owners themselves. Piperazine salts are given by the oral route for the treatment of this problem. However, broad-spectrum anthelmintics like pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, etc. are given to treat these conditions.
Many drugs have come in the market to treat fleas and other parasites. Nowadays, the medical agent called ivermectin is highly preferred by many dog owners to treat fleas and other parasites in dogs. This drug is available in injection form and oral form. Even the drug is available for the external application also.
