Dog Health Awareness

Ticks

A tick is a small, blood-sucking mite. Normally it lives on blood from larger animals, like deer, but it may also attach itself to humans. The tick sits on tall grass and trees, waiting for a possible 'host' to walk by. If a tick attaches itself to someone, it will typically find its way to a warm, moist and dark place on the body (like the crotch or the armpit). It will then insert a probe into the skin and begin sucking blood. In most cases the tick will leave after a while, or the host will get rid of it without any harm having been done. But, occasionally, the tick carries a small bacterium called Borrelia burghdor feri in its stomach. This is what causes Lyme disease. The further under the skin it gets, the greater the risk of catching the disease.

Why is it important to remove a tick?

A tick on the body doesn't usually cause any pain, but it is still important to get rid of it because of the risk of Lyme disease. Every year about 300-500 cases are reported.

How to remove the tick

• Seize the tick with a pair of tweezers as close to the head as possible. Take care not to pull it apart. Pull slowly and consistently until it lets go. Don't pull too hard.
• If the above method fails, tie a cotton thread around the tick as close to the head as possible and pull slowly until it lets go.
• Do not attempt to remove the tick through burning or chemicals - this may cause more harm than good.

Fleas

A flea is a small, wingless insect known for its ability to jump long distances relative to its size. Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. There are thousands of species of fleas, but the most well-known is the Ctenocephalides felis, which commonly infests cats and dogs. Fleas can also bite humans, causing itching and discomfort.

Pruritus

As the flea feeds on a cat or dog, it releases saliva to stop blood from coagulating. This saliva contains chemicals that cause an irritant reaction and pruritus (itching) in the host.

Flea Infestations – Health Issues

Biting or scratching is usually the first reaction of an animal with fleas. Some animals may begin excessive grooming to try to rid themselves of the irritation, eating many of the fleas in the process. Light-haired dogs or cats who do this may develop an orange-brown discoloration due to salivary staining.

These general symptoms are usually referred to as pruritus.

Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD)

Recent research indicates that FAD may be caused by intermittent exposure to large numbers of fleas. Animals sensitized in this way may subsequently become intensely reactive to flea saliva. This is important as it suggests the way to prevent FAD may be to prevent repeated flea infestations.

The initial reaction is usually a reddened wheal, which forms a papule or swollen nodule and crusts over. After that, several secondary changes are possible: 

•  Superficial pyoderma (skin infections affecting the skin surface)
• Seborrhea (scaling, crusting, yellowish patches on the skin)
• Diffuse erythema (reddening of the skin over various parts of the body)
• Hair loss
• "Hot spots" - bare, eroded, oozing patches (a severe localized skin infection or pyoderma)

The itching that occurs in dogs with FAD is intense, and results in self-mutilation. Generally, clinical signs are distributed over the inner thigh and abdomen and along the spine and hindquarters. Medications are sometimes needed to relieve the clinical signs temporarily.