When the heat arrives, parasites usually appear which, in addition to being very annoying, feed on the blood or skin of our dogs. We know them as canine external parasites. In addition to stealing nutrients and causing great discomfort, these critters can transmit diseases, some of them as serious as leishmaniasis or heartworm.
Although they are often underestimated, the control and prevention of parasite bites is essential for the he alth of our furry friends. If you want to rid your best friend of these annoying animals, read on. In this article on our site, in collaboration with Vectra 3D, we talk about the different types of external parasites in dogs, how to eliminate them and how to prevent them.
Types of external parasites in dogs
We call external parasites those that live outside the body of dogs, either on the skin or attached to the hair. They are usually small arthropod animals. Among them, the main types of external parasites in dogs are:
- Mites
- Fleas
- Mosquitoes
- Flebotomos
- Stable fly
Mites in dogs
Without a doubt, the mites best known and feared by dog guardians are the ticksThese are some hard brown or black animals that pierce our dog's skin, staying hooked to it. There, they can stay for a long time feeding on your blood.
A dog with many ticks loses a large amount of blood and therefore also nutrients. In addition, ticks can transmit infectious or parasitic diseases. babesiosis and Lyme disease are some of the diseases that ticks transmit to dogs.
Other parasites that affect dogs are the mites that cause mange These tiny animals dig tunnels in the skin of our furry, feeding on it and causing injuries. As a result, hair loss and other skin diseases can occur, such as fungal and bacterial infections.
Fleas on dogs
Fleas or siphonaptera are the main insects in dogs. All types of fleas are hematophagous parasites, that is, they feed on the blood of other animals. Although they live on the dog's body, unlike ticks, they don't attach to the skin, instead they move around by hopping and grabbing onto hairs.
To feed, fleas suck blood from different areas of the skin, producing many small welts. These welts cause great discomfort to the dog, which does not stop scratching. As a consequence, wounds may appear that favor the entry of pathogens. In addition, fleas can transmit the internal parasite Dipulidium caninum and can transmit other pathogens such as Rickettsia or Bartonella sp.
Flebotomos and mosquitoes in dogs
Many dipteran insects act as external parasites in dogs. The best known are the mosquitoes, which make a hole in the skin of the animal, they feed on its bloodSome species can transmit diseases to dogs, some of them as serious as dirofilariosis or heartworm.
As for sandflies, they are much smaller than mosquitoes and also feed on the blood of our furry friends. These insects are known to be the transmitters of leishmaniosis.
If you want to know more, take a look at this other article on Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes to dogs.
How to eliminate external parasites in dogs?
The treatment of external parasites in dogs depends on each type of parasite. In addition, it is essential to wash all the dog's objects in order to eliminate both parasites and their larval forms or their eggs, such as their bed, their toys and the places where they usually lie down. In general, it is recommended to clean the house thoroughly, since flea eggs can reach the most unexpected places.
Canine ticks can be removed one by one with tweezers, pulling lightly until the mite releases itself. This will ensure that the head does not remain inside the dog's skin, avoiding possible inflammation and infection.
To avoid or try to reduce the possibility of our furry suffering from a parasitic infestation, external antiparasitic products should be applied regularly.
How to prevent external parasites in dogs?
To avoid external parasites in our dog, it is best to prevent the animal's contact with the parasites. With this objective, there are several preventive methods of proven effectiveness. These are the main ones:
- Repellent sprays
- Necklaces
- Tablets
- Pipettes
Dog repellent sprays
Deworming sprays are liquids that are applied to the dog's body. They contain a series of substances that camouflage the dog's smell and repel external parasites. In this way, the probability of bite is reduced. It should always be used together with other more effective methods.
Antiparasitic collars for dogs
Canine worming collars are placed around the neck of dogs. Like pipettes, they serve to repel mites and insects that feed on blood. They do this thanks to the release of repellent and insecticide substances that prevent parasites from coming into contact with the dog.
The active substances in the collars are released little by little, so that their effects last for several monthsHowever, its effectiveness depends on each brand. For this reason, it is recommended to consult with the veterinarian about the frequency of use and if it is necessary to combine this method with another.
Deworming tablets for dogs
The pills or tablets for the control of insects in dogs contain active substances that are distributed throughout the body of the animal until they reach their skin. In this way, when an insect or mite feeds on the dog's blood, it dies quickly. It is a more invasive method, so we recommend that you consult your veterinarian before purchasing them.
Also, you should bear in mind that pills for external parasites in dogs do not prevent the bite. Although they decrease the time during which the arthropod feeds, they do not prevent the transmission of diseases, they only reduce the probability. Therefore, we must combine them with other prevention methods, such as collars and pipettes.
Antiparasitic pipettes for dogs
The antiparasitic pipettes contain a liquid with repellent and/or insecticide substances They are applied directly to the skin on the back of the dog, as that this place is inaccessible to his tongue and paws. The body absorbs the active substances from the pipette, so that the animal repels insects and eliminates them if they come into contact with its skin, without the need for them to bite.
Defend your best friend from external parasites with the VECTRA® 3D pipettes for dogs, which repel fleas, ticks, sandflies and mosquitoes for a month, protecting your furry friend from their bites. Also, when one of these bugs comes into contact with your skin, it kills it before it starts drawing blood. As if that were not enough, avoid the development of flea eggs and larvae in the home. Free your dog from parasites and protect their he alth with Vectra, thanks to its innovative applicator, distributing the product is very easy. In addition, there are a total of 5 presentations to cover the different weights of the dogs.
