Начало > Tips for puppies > How to protect my dog from parasites
EXTERNAL DE-WORMING
External parasites are better known as they are visible and easily detectable. The main ones are fleas and ticks, although mites are also frequent, which due to their size we cannot see but cause itching and even scabies in our dog. The hot months are when they proliferate the most and the amount of hair that covers the body of our pets makes them the ideal home for these parasites that can adhere to their skin jumping directly from the ground to their hair without us noticing. It is very important to continuously keep our pets protected since these parasites are often transmitters of diseases or can cause health problems that can affect both our dog and humans.
How to protect our dog from external parasites
DOGKING recommends regular use of the combination of pipettes and anti-parasite collars
PIPETTES
Pipettes are small dispensers of a highly concentrated dewormer. They are applied monthly on the dog's skin and protect against transmitting parasites and mosquitoes, depending on the brand.COLLARS
The collar works in combination with other means of external de-worming. It must be adjusted to the skin, without choking, for it to take effect. Its duration ranges from 5-12 months depending on the brand.PILLS
They are applied as a medicine and are recommended in cases in which other deworming means cause allergic reactions to the dog or the family. It does not protect against parasite-transmitting mosquitoes.SPRAY
They are not commonly used since it is applied on the dog and they usually dirty their coat, something undesirable for long hair such as that of the Australian Cobberdog. They are recommended for use in combination with other deworming resources in places where there is a high concentration of parasites.How to give a pipette
Below we explain how to apply pipettes and what you should take into account if you apply it on a puppy or on an adult dog. It is very important to use the appropriate pipette for the weight of the dog and apply it on time every month.
APPLICATION:
The pipette should be applied in 3 points on the back, following the column from the cross (above the shoulders, which would be the nape of the dog) to the middle of the back, separating the hair and putting the product on the skin. It should not be applied near the tail since the dog could lick the product.
Warnings:
- It is recommended to handle these products with disposable gloves as the product is toxic. If you do not use them, you should wash your hands well after applying it.
- If our dog is nervous, it is better to have help to immobilise it, taking into account that the pipette is applied on the back, so we cannot let it lie on its back.
- The pipette is placed directly on the skin, which is why we must separate the hair well in the application area.
- After application, you must be careful that the dog does not rub, as this could eliminate part of the product. We must also be careful to touch it while the liquid is not dry. Putting the pipette at night may be a good idea.
- We should not bathe a dog after pipetting it, two days before or two days later to achieve maximum effectiveness, although there are some pipettes that do allow its application the same day of the bath (see leaflet). Mistake of this kind can make us think that the pipette has not worked when in fact it is an administration failure.
INTERNAL DE-WORMING
By internally protecting our pet we will be preventing intestinal parasites from installing in their body. There are several types but the most frequent are nematodes, tapeworms and cestodes; all of them transmissible to people.
Dogs can get these parasites without great effort by sniffing the ground and licking it, by ingesting something that already contains that parasite, or through the bite of a mosquito infected by the parasite. These parasites are usually not visible, so the only way to detect them is through a stool test. We can suspect that our dog has internal parasites if it loses weight and appetite, vomits, its hair falls out and stops shining or does not excrete properly.
To protect our Australian Cobberdog from these parasites we have edible tablets that are administered once every three months.
LEISHMANIASIS
Leishmaniosis is a parasitic disease that is transmitted through the bite of the sandfly (a kind of mosquito) and its severity greatly affects the quality of life of the infected dog and can even cause death. Until a few years ago, leishmaniosis spread only in warm areas. However, the global rise in temperature has caused the disease-transmitting sandfly to now spread widely where it was rare.
Animals affected by the protozoan of leishmania usually present symptoms of constant dejection, thinning, excessive growth of the nails, hair loss and skin problems. Despite the many studies conducted around this disease, there is still no cure for leishmaniasis and it is still fatal today.
This is why the key is to prevent contagion. For this we have necklaces and pipettes that help us repel the mosquito that spreads the disease. On the other hand, we can prevent the disease by administering a syrup and giving our dog the leishmaniasis vaccine. Together, syrup and vaccine have been shown to greatly increase effectiveness against sand flies.
FILARIOSIS
Canine filariasis is a disease caused by worm-shaped parasites that grow inside the body and live in different organs, causing death if the infection is massive in the heart or lungs.
Filariosis occurs when a vector (which can be a mosquito, flea, or tick) bites an infected animal. By sucking its blood, it takes the larvae of the filaria and as soon as it bites another healthy animal, it infects the disease.
Once the animal is infected by the filariae, the symptoms do not appear until 6 months later, when the worm settles in the lymphatic system and the different organs of the body such as the skin, the eyes, the kidney, or the more severe: the lungs and the heart.
If it is confirmed that the dog is infected, it is necessary to treat it with a parasiticidal product and attend to the organs that have been exposed to this parasite to restore its natural function.
If the dog is not infected, the most recommended for its prevention is the use of external antiparasitics such as the collar, pipettes, and the annual Canine Filariosis Vaccine.