KNOW THE SIGNS: PROTECT YOUR PET FROM COMMON PARASITES: FLEAS:
How Fleas are Transmitted to Dogs and Cats Ctenocephalides felis, the fleas that affect most dogs and cats, can breed year-round indoors. The flea life cycle varies according to where they live. In the south, fleas may hatch year-round, while their northern counterparts flourish in warm summer months. Moving through the life cycle from egg to larvae to pupae to adult can take a flea anywhere from 14 days to 140 days in certain conditions. Adult fleas mate shortly after contact with animals. Once they produce eggs, the eggs often drop off the animal to complete their larval and pupal stages. The pupal stage can last from 3-to-4 weeks to several months depending on the environment (warm, humid conditions with temperatures above 80 percent humidity are optimal). Once hatched, adult fleas search for a host, and if fleas are not removed from the host they can live for more than two months, depending on environmental conditions.
Signs in Dogs and Cats
Pets that exhibit signs of itching, scratching, and unusual amounts of chewing and licking may have fleas. Although fleas are sometimes difficult to spot, black specks (flea feces) on pets' skin and coat are one sign - these specks turn reddish brown when placed on dampened white paper. Flea-infested dogs may scratch mainly on the lower part of their bodies while cats may scratch more around their heads and necks. Fleas also can cause an allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis, a hypersensitivity to flea saliva, which can cause a rash inflammation or hair loss in some pets. If ingested, fleas also can transmit tapeworms to pets.
Treatment and Treatment Outcomes
Effective treatments for fleas require killing fleas and breaking the flea life cycle. Because fleas multiply rapidly, treating fleas involves removing them form the animal's environment as well as its skin and hair.
Human Health Connections/Concerns
When no suitable animal hosts are found, fleas often look to humans for the blood they need to survive. Although fleas are mostly a nuisance to humans, some research indicates that fleas play a role in transmitting cat-scratch disease and plague. If ingested, fleas also can transmit tapeworms to humans.
Sarcoptic Mange (Scabies)
How Saroptic Mange (Scabies) is Transmitted to Dogs and Cats:
Sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes Scabei var. canis) is caused by a microscopic mite that burrows under a dog's skin. Sarcoptic mange has a 17- to 21-day, four-stage life cycle that consists of egg, larva, nymph and adult stage. Passed from dog to dog, adult female sarcoptic mange mites tunnel under a dog's skin to lay eggs. The eggs hatch and mature into adults that lay eggs in a cycle that lasts two to three weeks.
Sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes Scabei var. canis) is caused by a microscopic mite that burrows under a dog's skin. Sarcoptic mange has a 17- to 21-day, four-stage life cycle that consists of egg, larva, nymph and adult stage. Passed from dog to dog, adult female sarcoptic mange mites tunnel under a dog's skin to lay eggs. The eggs hatch and mature into adults that lay eggs in a cycle that lasts two to three weeks.
Signs in Dogs
Dogs that exhibit signs of intense itching, scratching, and biting especially around the face, chest, legs, elbows, ears or hocks may have sarcoptic mange. Small red bumps, hair loss and crusty scabs often appear. Secondary bacterial infections also may occur as a result of scratching. Mites can be detected in skin scrapings but are often difficult to find.
Treatment and Treatment Outcomes
Treating sarcoptic mange normally requires several treatments to kill adult mites as well as all newly hatched mites. Because sarcoptic mange is very contagious, all dogs in a home should be treated if sarcoptic mange is suspected. Traditional treatment options include insecticide dips and treatment with oral medications or injections. Skin infections resulting from sarcoptic mange mite infestations also should be treated.
Human Health Connections/Concerns
Dogs can pass the sarcoptic mange mites to humans (scabies). A red, itchy rash may appear on arms, waist of other areas.
Treating sarcoptic mange normally requires several treatments to kill adult mites as well as all newly hatched mites. Because sarcoptic mange is very contagious, all dogs in a home should be treated if sarcoptic mange is suspected. Traditional treatment options include insecticide dips and treatment with oral medications or injections. Skin infections resulting from sarcoptic mange mite infestations also should be treated.
Human Health Connections/Concerns
Dogs can pass the sarcoptic mange mites to humans (scabies). A red, itchy rash may appear on arms, waist of other areas.
EAR MITES:
How Ear Mites are Transmitted to Dogs and Cats
Ear mites (otedectes cynotis) are small microscopic mites that feed on the pet's ear lining. Ear mites are highly contagious and easily passed from pet to pet. Ear mites have a four-stage life cycle that includes an egg, larva, nymph and adult stage.
Signs in Dogs and Cats
Signs of ear mites can include infection in both ears, intense irritation, scratching, head-shaking, rubbing black, red-brown, or waxy ear discharge. Additional signs include itchy skin located around ears, head and neck as well as thick crusts around the outer ear and possible crusts and scales on the neck, rump and tail.
Treatment and Treatment Outcomes
Because ear mites are very contagious, treatment should be administered to all pets in a household. You can buy ear-mite thing from the store or go to what I use Ivomec 1% 50ml for $26.99 @ RevivalAnimal.com and do it again in 2~weeks you EAR-MITE'S,FLEAS and HEARTWORMS, are gone (*-*).