Just like any other member of the family, a dog’s health affects everyone in your household. Every pet-loving family has to eventually come to terms with parasites such as fleas, ticks, and worms. These pests can turn you and your pets life upside down, as any impacted family knows all too well.
Here, we will take a look at the facts and the best ways to keep you and your family safe.
Stats
In Australia, over 46,000 animals are put down each year due to parasite related illness. That adds up to roughly 120 pets a day.
Sadly, once a dog is affected, it is often too late. The best way to keep your dog and your family safe is simple prevention. Here’s what you can do:
Plan of Action
Needless to say, only taking action after your pet gets sick is unfair to your dog. Although you may set up a pill plan, administering the medicine at the wrong time prevents your efforts from being effective. Preventative care medicine not given on time is simply not preventative. You’ll need to talk to your doctor about what medicine plan is best for your dog.
Luckily, companies such as Flea Mail offer a subscription based service, in which doctors send you specific preventative pills to give to your pet. A vet curates a plan for your dog and sends the required medicine to your home each month. This eliminates the possibility of forgetting your monthly trio to the vet.
Every busy household knows how hard it is to schedule and maintain any doctors appointment and one less trip to worry about can be invaluable.
What Pests to Watch Out For
Unfortunately, there are many at-home pests that can affect your dog’s health without you even knowing it. Here’s a few hazards to account for when crafting your preventative plan:
Fleas
Fleas are often the most talked about of all parasites, partially due to the fact that they will bring stress upon your entire household. They often latch onto your dog as a host, who then brings them into your home. Once inside, they reproduce and lay eggs. These eggs hatch into larva, and eventually form into a full grown flea.
Your dogs most visible symptom will be itching. To determine if fleas are the culprit, there are a couple of quick at home tests to try:
- Begin by checking the dog’s belly and inner thighs for the presence of the pest
- You can also search for the presence of “flea dust”
- However, a trip to the vet is the most comprehensive and final way to determine if your pet has fleas
Ticks
While mostly known for choosing humans as their host, ticks will target your dog as well. Just as with humans, ticks carry Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These diseases, if passed on, can cause detrimental effects to your dog’s health. Furthermore, if infected, your dog will increase the spread.
Mites
Similar to the other discussed preventable diseases, mites cause harm to your dog while also turning the animal into a carrier and spreader of the disease. Symptoms include skin irritation, hair loss, and scabbing.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, the only way to ensure the safety of your dog and family is preventative care. You can save yourself the nightmare of an infestation by not letting the parasites make the first move. Luckily, it is now easier than it has ever been to be prepared. Thanks to readily available medicine you can have delivered to your home, there is no excuse to not be safe!
