Humans find fleas just as annoying as your dog does, and the fact that many dogs have an allergic reaction to fleas makes many pet owners understandably concerned. Infection and other issues can also result if your dog scratches the affected area.
A flea infestation can also lead to your dog suffering from severe dermatitis, as well as the allergic reaction and the overall discomfort. A medicated flea collar is one of the most effective ways to ensure protection from fleas and make sure that these tiny pests don’t become a serious problem in your house. The collar will need to be replaced every now and then, but until it is time to buy a new one, it is left in place.
Lice can also affect the overall health of your dog, as well as hook worms, whip worms, round worms and other parasites that you can’t always easily spot. The presence of hook worms can lead to anemia, and depending on how bad the infestation is, the anemia can be severe.
If you see rashes and lesions on your dog’s skin, these can often be a sure sign of a hook worm infestation, as well as other tell tale signs such as loose stools which can be mixed with blood and have a reddish color.
A potbelly or round look to the belly is a common sign of roundworm, which often makes it easy to tell if your dog has a roundworm infestation. Fenbendazole, pyrantel parnoate, and other anthelmintics can be used to effectively treat an infestation of roundworm, as can piperazine salts, which you administer by mouth.
Because of the large variety of collars, medicine and other flea treatments available, there is no reason for you put up with the inconvenience caused by a flea infestation, or for your dog to suffer and be uncomfortable. However there is no getting away from the fact that any dog owner can find fleas to be a very serious problem. Another effective way to get rid of fleas is to use the extremely effective medical agent known as ivermectin. You can give this to your dog through an injection, or it can be given to your dog by mouth.
