Bugs on the dog
- Lice and hair lice
How can be the dog infected with it?
Lice and hair lice are transmitted by direct contact with an infected animal or combs and brushes. So-called "crowding" (that is many animals in a small space) and an immature immune system (for example, in puppies and kittens) are favorable factors for infection.
How do I recognize it as owner?
Lice and hair lice are small insects that can be detected just by the naked eye. Affected animals show a dull, slightly scaly skin.
How dangerous is it for the dog?
The lice are bloodsucking, they can cause anemia in heavy infestations, especially in puppies. Lice feed mainly of skin cells. Usually there is just a moderate itching, which can lead to hair loss and subsequent infections with bacteria.
Is there a risk of transmission to humans?
Neither lice nor hair lice are contagious to humans.
What can we do against it?
Lice and hair lice have become rare in our dogs as flea and tick control provide excellent protection against these pests.
- Fleas
How can be the dog infected with it?
Flea infestation is often large and the risk of infection is huge. It is usually through contact with infected animals, staying in flea-infested areas, for example animal shelters, dog salons, veterinary clinics, or when wandering outdoors. Main seasons are summer and autumn. But in our heated rooms have fleas now the whole season.
How do I recognize it as owner?
The fleas are around 3 to 4 millimeters large, wingless, flattened insects with long legs that are used for jumping. In heavy flea infestation, the fleas can be seen moving quickly on the dog. But usually we can discover the droppings of fleas as black, about 1 millimeter granules on the animal. Since these are made of digested blood, they can be moistened on a white absorbent paper with a few drops of water. As a result, they turn red.
How dangerous is it for the dog?
Fleas are uncomfortable for the dog, as they can cause severe itching. Infected animals scratch themselves extensively, especially in the rear back. This can lead to bacterial skin infections, or so-called "hotspots". The emergence of an allergy to flea saliva is also one of the fears. Puppies with heavy flea infestations may suffer substantial loss of blood through the many flea bites. In addition, the flea transmits other pathogens, such as the dog tapeworm.
Is there a risk of transmission to humans?
Yes. Most often people are infected at the calves. The flea bite is unpleasant and highly itchy.
What can we do against it?
All animals as well as the environment must be treated: boxes, car, combs, brushes. There are numerous supplements that can be applied to the animal or in its environment. At the same time a deworming should be done. ·
- Ticks
How can be the dog infected with it?
Ticks prefer mild temperatures. Therefore, they are mainly active in the spring to autumn. The most common dog tick is the common wood tick, which is native to forests, parks, and even in our gardens. Ticks climb up to about a meter of grasses and shrubs. There they wait for a potential host, they recognize on the exhalation. They can fall to the host and migrate until they find a favorable place for hard biting. With a barbed piercing instrument they suck tight. They secrete a kind of cement with which they can anchor themselves over a few days in the wound.
How do I recognize it as owner?
«Empty» ticks are about 3 millimeters wide, flattened arachnids. Ticks soak up over a few days. They are than large and gray, before falling back to about 1 centimeter.
How dangerous is it for the dog?
The tick itself is not dangerous for the dog. But the transmission of dangerous diseases such as babesiosis and ehrlichiosis.
Is there a risk of transmission to humans?
Firmly engorged ticks are harmless to humans. Tick bites in humans in rare cases can cause a tick-borne encephalitis, a flu-like meningitis or Lyme disease (rash).
What can we do against it?
Dogs can be protected effectively by tick collars or spot-on preparations. In addition, it is worthwhile to carefully scan even after walking the dog on moving ticks. Ticks are already soaked, they can be easily removed by ticks pliers with a rotating motion. One should refrain from "drowning" the ticks by adherent liek oil or other liquids. Ticks can suffocate by this treatment and split their saliva and gastric contents into the wound. This encourages the transfer of potential pathogens.
- Sarcoptic mange - grave mites
How can be the dog infected with it?
Most infections occur through contact with infected dogs and foxes.
How do I recognize it as owner?
The grave mite is highly contagious and extremely triggers severe itching, dandruff, scabs, redness and hair loss in ears, stomach, elbow and tarsal joints from outside. The mites are microscopic.
How dangerous is it for the dog?
The diagnosis of grave mites can be difficult. Often infected dogs are incorrectly diagnosed with an allergy and treated with corticosteroids. Although this is the itchiness somewhat alleviated, but stimulated the proliferation of mites. Also increases the risk of bacterial infections result.
Is there a risk of transmission to humans?
Yes. The highly contagious grave mite can cause human skin red bumps and itching. Commonly stomach and upper arms are affected.
What can we do against it?
If the disease is correctly identified, the mange can be treated quickly and effectively by means of mite-killing drugs.
- Cheyletiellen - predatory mites
How can be the dog infected with it?
Through direct or indirect contact with infected animals or eggs.
How do I recognize it as owner?
The Cheyletiellose is a scaly and itchy skin disease that mainly affected by the spine. The mites are about 0.3 mm in size and only visible with the naked eye when moving fine.
How dangerous is it for the dog?
Annoying itching and as a result of bacterial skin infections are the most common problems.
Is there a risk of transmission to humans?
Yes. Cheyletiellen causes in humans red, itchy bumps with a central crust.
What can we do against it?
Against Cheyletiellen we can use mite killer or tick treatment and to help against the itching corticosteroids. An environment treatment is also necessary because the mites can survive a few days without a host. Eggs on hair are a common reason for re-infection.
- Otodectic - ear mites
How can be the dog infected with it?
By direct contact with infected animals.
How do I recognize it as owner?
Constant shaking ears and scratching due to severe itching, and coffee grounds-like ear discharge are typical of ear mite infection.
How dangerous is it for the dog?
A chronic ear infections with yeast and / or bacteria may be the result.
Is there a risk of transmission to humans?
Transmission is possible but rare.
What can we do against it?
The mites can be treated conventionally, with mite killers. The ears should be cleaned and any subsequent infections treated with ear drops.
- Harvest mites - Neotrombicula autumnalis
How can be the dog infected with it?
Harvest mites occur mainly in the summer months from July to October. They prefer low vegetation and frequently occur in gardens and meadows. The mite larvae wait on blades of grass on a potential host (rodents, dogs, cats, humans) where they laid eyes are notably in the area between the toes, ears or folds on the abdomen in the teat area. The larvae feed on juices and lymph cell.
How do I recognize it as owner?
The approximately 0.3-millimeter larvae of harvest mites are bright orange and easily recognizable by the naked eye as a small orange dots.
How dangerous is it for the dog?
Harvest mites are annoying parasites. They trigger severe itching and are not always easy to deal with.
Is there a risk of transmission to humans?
Yes. Harvest mites call in humans, the so-called "harvesting itch" out. Itching, redness, itchy wheals caused at least 24 hours after dropping the larvae. Preferred sites are warm regions of the body, skin folds, and places under tight clothing.
What can we do against it?
Some flea control products have a repellent effect on the harvest mites. The best protection for humans and dogs, however, is the avoidance of autumn with grass mite-infected areas.
Author: Dr. med. Claudia Nett-Mettler