Man's best friend can also have a pest problem
Issue 9 Technical Note on Man's Best Friend Can Also Have a Pest Problem, with a focus on diagnosis, prevention, and criteria applicable to professional pest management.
Every responsible dog owner knows how important it is to provide their pet with regular exercise, a nutritious diet, and plenty of affection. But there is also a responsibility to protect them from risks to canine health, such as those associated with the presence of certain external parasites. Ticks, fleas and even mosquitoes cause problems for pets since their presence is associated with numerous diseases and can lead to infestation.
at home, generating a serious problem even for human beings. The summer climate promotes outdoor living and therefore both domestic animals and us become more susceptible to being attacked by these blood-sucking pests. The correct management of these pests will provide greater security and comfort when enjoying green spaces. We will then describe some key characteristics about ticks and fleas to be able to eliminate them properly.
ticks
The first thing we need to know about ticks is that they are not insects, they are ectoparasitic arachnids that feed on blood and act as vectors of pathogens responsible for producing diseases such as Typhus, Lyme disease, Piroplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, among others. Some symptoms may appear immediately after tick bites while other diseases
They take time to express their symptoms and by the time they do the animal may be in serious danger. Pets that spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in areas with tall grass, are more susceptible to ticks, although other animals can also bring ticks into the home or pass them to the household dog, where they can also bite humans.
Be sure to remove the entire tick (head and mouthparts) without leaving any fragments of this arachnid on the dog's skin. To do this, you must remove them with a slow and constant movement in order not to break the aforementioned mouthparts. If possible, it is best to use tweezers and grab them over (or just behind) the mouthparts.
Fleas
Fleas are another common pest that can affect domestic animals, especially cats and dogs. Their bites can cause itching, red welts that cause itching. They can also cause diseases such as anemia, allergic dermatitis due to fleas, transmit parasites such as Tapeworms, in sensitive animals it causes hair loss, secondary inflammations of the skin, etc. Fleas are Holometabolous insects (they have juvenile stages in the form of larvae) and only the adult is hematophagous since it feeds on warm-blooded animals, these being non-specific. Adults also have a great capacity to move through their enormous jumps, so they can take refuge in clothes, armchairs, rags, etc. Adult fleas lay their eggs on their host and land on nearby surfaces, such as carpets, couches, pet beds, and anywhere a pet has access. As we mentioned, fleas are particularly difficult to find due to their size and ability to disperse. Another characteristic is that they reproduce quickly, a flea
Adult can lay up to 20 eggs per day and eggs generally hatch within a range of 2 to 14 days; As a conclusion, a flea infestation can grow quickly. A large flea infestation is difficult to control and takes a long time to eradicate. Keep in mind that fleas are also found on rodents and can transmit dangerous diseases to humans such as the devastating bubonic plague.
changes in your animal's behavior, such as lack of appetite or decreased energy, take him to your veterinarian as soon as possible. This could be a sign of disease or other health problems caused by these pests.
Seven keys to protecting pets (and humans) from fleas and ticks:
3. Sanitize the sheets/beds where the animal sleeps, as well as the pet's toys, food containers, and play areas. Using a vacuum cleaner is excellent for removing juvenile stages and flea eggs. Place special emphasis on cleanliness as part of the treatment.
1. Inspect the area where the animal usually frequents, as well as the animal itself. Pay special attention if the pet has been in wooded areas or among tall grasses, where parasites such as ticks thrive easily. Also look for irritations on the pet's skin such as bite marks or red areas. Excessive scratching is a good indicator of these aforementioned irritations. If they are observed
2. In spring and summer, ticks and fleas tend to be found more frequently since population dynamics are associated with thermal variations and at these times the reproduction rate increases.
4. Keeping the grass short prevents areas with a high incidence of ticks and fleas from appearing. 5. If you find a tick on the pet, remove it immediately, being careful
6. Part of the control consists of maintaining regular hygiene by periodically bathing the dogs, using products such as flea and tick-killing shampoos or flea collars. The use of insecticides on the dog through spot-on treatments (the well-known pipettes) can be effective in controlling fleas and ticks. In fact, some maintain the insecticidal properties in the hairs shed by these animals, maintaining this effect for the control of the larvae (which are usually in the environment where the dog circulates). 7. The treatment mentioned in the previous item remains incomplete if the area frequented by the animal is not treated to eliminate juvenile stages and eggs (which are much more numerous than adults and represent a potential danger of reinfestation). The application of products approved for domestic use and that have an efficient effect on the control of fleas and ticks is the key to management, and perfectly complements the cleaning actions or applications of products on the pet. Make spot applications and prioritize IGR use indoors. Perform residual perimeter applications (prioritizing SC type formulations).