There is nothing worse than noticing your furbaby itching away at itself only to find something crawling along their skin, I’m itchy just thinking about it! But I will suffer through my itchy, phantom-bug syndrome long enough to deliver necessary information, all you need to know about those creepy crawlies sometimes found on canines and felines. No one really likes to discuss this topic, but taking steps to prevent an infestation is much easier than dealing with getting rid of one. As always, we try to arm our readers with all the tools we can to keep their loved ones safe!
Let’s start with the most common: Fleas. These insects are basically squatters, living their entire lifespan on one host until it dies, which can be up to 100 days. They take bites of their host’s blood whenever they are feeling peckish, and these tiny bites are what makes dogs, cats, and humans itch. The flea then lays the eggs on a hair follicle to be hatched, or itched/shaken off to find a new host of its own. The bites themselves are simply annoying, but they can carry a couple of not-so-nice things. Such as bartonella, which is called cat scratch fever in humans, can also be caught by canines, and they also can carry tapeworms. Preventing flea infestation is fairly simple, with a very wide variety of treatments on the market, and treating fleas can be as simple as a bath (which we offer here at Puff & Fluff)!
Another common nasty that has been thriving in the desert is the Tick. They are closer to spiders as they fall under arachnids, having eight legs most of it’s life. These suckers operate a little differently than the flea, taking only what they need from one host before becoming plump and unlatching to lay their eggs in the grass (or your carpet). A tick can live for up to 3 years if their cycle is not complete, since once they have laid their eggs is when they pass away. However, unlike a flea, ticks will latch onto a host and completely gorge themselves, and can carry some nasty things like lyme disease and rocky mountain spotted fever. Also, if a tick is removed incorrectly, the jaws and head may not be completely removed, leaving the bitten open for infection. Preventing and treating ticks are similar to fleas, except ticks tend to be more resilient.
Mange is something most people have heard about, but know little about. This is because most dogs affected by mange are 12-18 months old while their immune systems are developing, or when a dog has been severely neglected. Still, it is good to know the origins of this. Mange is an infestation of a certain microscopic mite which can be found on all dogs (and some humans) in small amounts so this is not a contagious condition. These mites take over when a dog has a compromised immune system, which is why it is common amongst neglected dogs. With proper care, all canines can make a full recovery, though there may be cosmetic damage.
There are also ear mites which is something very common in puppies, resulting in itching and shaking of the head. Seek veterinary care if your pup is displaying trouble with their ears as it could be more than a mite, such as a bacterial or yeast infection which is a whole different ballgame.
As always, knowing is half the battle! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go scrub myself! (P.S. I would advise against looking up anything with pictures, it is not for the squeamish!)