Q2. What is the Life Cycle of Fleas?

Fleas spend most of their lifetime off the pet. They go through a life cycle that includes egg and cocoon stages. While adult fleas are relatively easy to kill with insecticides, the egg and cocoon stages are very resistant.

The entire life cycle of the flea (from egg to larva, from larva to cocoon, from cocoon to adult) can vary from 14 days during warm, moist weather, to several weeks or months under extremes of climatic conditions.

The adult flea must dine on your pet's blood to survive. Fleas can jump from 16 to 36 inches. For their size, this is like a human jumping over the Washington Monument!
" Successful flea control must be directed at both the pet and the environment.
" Always coordinate treatments to break the life cycle of the flea and to treat the environment and pet at the same time.
" Consult our health care team to determine the best product for your pet.

Q3. Are there medical problems associated with fleas?

" Skin Infections: "Hot spots" are frequently seen in animals with flea infestations. Hot spots can pop up from intense scratching and licking. Hot spots can also be found on non-allergic animals as the result of problems unrelated to fleas.

" Tapeworms: Fleas are an essential link in the life cycle of the tapeworm in the cat or dog. A good flea control program should accompany the treatment of your pet for tapeworms. The tapeworm is a segmented worm that is only occasionally passed whole. Instead, you will usually only see a number of individual white segments passed in the stool, around the animal's anus, or on their bedding. These may have the appearance of rice grains.

" Anemia: A pet heavily infested with fleas can lose a significant portion of its circulating blood. This may lead to decreased resistance to other disorders and cause your pet to act lethargic.

Q4. What is flea allergy dermatis?

Fleas can cause a condition known as allergic dermatitis. Because some dogs and cats are allergic to flea saliva, a single flea- bite causes the animal to chew and scratch the area where the flea has bitten. This can cause redness, sores and hair loss. One or two fleas on an allergic animal may trigger the same response as a hundred flea- bites.

Some pets need medication to control the scratching and chewing until a flea control program can be started. Animals with severe allergic dermatitis may require intermittent use of prescription medications coupled with flea prevention during those periods when fleas are most active during hot, humid months.

Remember, use of these medications is not a substitute for a flea control program.

Q5. How can I protect my pet from fleas?

In order to ensure the safety of your pet it is recommended that you consult your veterinarian to determine which product is best. Some retail products can be dangerous and may not be sufficient for optimal protection. Your veterinarian will ensure that your pet is in good health before prescribing prevention and guide you on proper usage.

Q6. What is Heartworm Disease?

Canine Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal parasitic condition caused by a blood-borne parasite known as Dirofilaria immitis. The worm is transmitted by mosquitoes, matures and resides in the heart and can result in severe damage to the heart and surrounding blood vessels of the dog. If infection with heartworm is prolonged damage to the kidneys, liver, joints and eyes can also occur.

Q7. How is Heartworm transmitted?

Adult worms produce offspring called microfilariae, which circulate in the bloodstream and are ingested by mosquitoes when they feed from an infected animal. The microfilariae undergo development in the mosquito and are then transmitted to another dog or animal when that mosquito bites. Dogs are considered the most common host for heartworm, however heartworm may also infect more than thirty animal species (including coyotes, foxes, wolves, domestic cats, ferrets) and even humans.

Q8. What dogs are at risk for Heartworm?

Heartworm is a parasitic disease that can affect any dog regardless of age, sex or habitat. If there is the potential for exposure to heartworm then there is an inherent risk of infection.

Q9. What are the symptoms of Heartworm disease?

Many dogs will show little or no sign of infection even after the worms become adults. If symptoms were present they would include difficulty breathing, a persistent cough, fatigue or reluctance to exercise, listlessness, weight loss or a rough hair coat. In more severe cases signs include liver enlargement, temporary loss of consciousness due to poor blood flow to the brain and excessive fluid in the abdomen.

Q10. Can Heartworm be prevented?

Yes. There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection, including monthly topical and monthly chewable or flavoured tablets. Preventative medications are extremely effective and when given properly, on a regular basis, can completely prevent your pet from contracting heartworm.
A blood test will be taken prior to dispensing preventative medications to ensure your pet is not heartworm positive.

Remember, year-round or seasonal heartworm protection is only as good as your diligence in remembering to give your pet the prescribed medication as directed by your veterinarian.

IS HEARTWORM PROTECTION COMPLIANCE A MAJOR PROBLEM?

Several studies show that dog owners often forget to administer their dog's monthly heartworm preventative as recommended. Specifically, a North American survey of dog owners, conducted in the summer of 2000 found that more than 80 percent had failed to give their dogs the monthly heartworm preventative on the due dates as directed. One third of dog owners surveyed entirely missed a monthly dose, and 20 percent of those who missed eventually stopped giving the preventative all together. An earlier study by Merck Ag Vet, revealed that only 56.4 percent of heartworm medications are administered as recommended by the veterinarian. MISSING A HEARTWORM DOSE CAN PUT DOGS AT RISK FOR HEARTWORM DISEASE.

Q11. What are intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasites include many different types such as round, hook and tapeworms. Some of these only infect pets while others can be zoonotic meaning that they can be transmitted to humans.

Q12. What are roundworms?

Roundworms are parasitic worms that are round in shape, live in the dog's intestines and consume partially digested food. Adult worms resemble spaghetti and may come out in the feces or vomit of an infected dog. Transmission to dogs is through eggs in the feces which contaminate soil that may be ingested. These worms are also transmitted by eating a prey animal that is infected (usually rodents) as well as to puppies from the mother's milk or while in the uterus.

In dogs, roundworms cause diarrhea, vomiting and in extreme cases, intestinal obstruction. It is important to note that these worms are zoonotic and can infect humans by transmission of the eggs. In humans, roundworms can cause a serious condition known as visceral larval migrans. Most victims are children who are infected when putting contaminated fingers into their mouths. Once ingested, the roundworm egg develops into a larva and tries to complete its lifecycle. The roundworm gets lost in the human body, usually in the eye, dies and generates an inflammatory reaction that can cause blindness. Proper hand washing can prevent infection. Deworming of puppies if infected and preventative medication will reduce environmental contamination.

Q13. What are hookworms?

In dogs, hookworm infection occurs through ingestion or skin penetration of hookworm larvae found in the stools or soil contaminated by feces of an infected animal. Puppies can also be infected in the uterus or by consuming their mother's milk if she has a hookworm burden. The larvae then develop and migrate to the intestines where they hook onto the intestinal wall and feast on the host's blood.

These parasites are also zoonotic. The larvae of hookworms can penetrate the skin and infect humans through contact with soil or sand contaminated by feces of host dogs or cats. In a human host, the hookworm larvae do not migrate to the intestines and become blood-sucking adults as they do in pets. Instead, they move around under the skin and eventually die causing an inflammatory skin reaction known as cutaneous larval migrans, or "creeping eruptions". It is important to keep your pet free of hookworms with good hygiene, preventative medication and regular veterinary check ups. Also, keep stray dogs and cats out of sandboxes and gardening areas.

Q14. What are tapeworms?

Tapeworms are long flat worms that grow in segments. This parasite is not zoonotic. One type of tapeworm is transmitted through fleas while another type is transmitted to cats by hunting and consuming mice or rats and to dogs by hunting and consuming rabbits.
Many people who had thought their pet could not possibly have fleas find out about the infestation this way. The tapeworm segment breaks open releasing its eggs. A larval flea consumes the egg along with the flea dirt that it normally eats. As the larval flea matures, so does the baby tapeworm. When a grooming dog or cat licks the flea and swallows it, the dead flea is digested in the dog's stomach releasing the baby tapeworm. The tapeworm is passed to its new home in the dog or cat's small intestine where it attaches and lives its life.

This parasite rarely causes any problems in pets aside from an itchy hind end. Consider that your pet has tapeworms if segments are seen under its tail, around its anus, or on its feces. Tapeworm segments generally look like a grain of rice, although segments can be passed in small groups connected to each other and look a little larger than a grain of rice.

Q15. How can I prevent parasites in my pets and myself?

Children are more prone to contracting zoonotic parasites, as they tend to kiss and play more readily with pets. Parasite larvae are shed in the pet's feces and may contaminate soil and sand. When children play in the contaminated areas and place their fingers in their mouths this allows the eggs to be ingested, causing infection. Be sure to pick up feces promptly and avoid eating while playing with your pet. If a children's sandbox is present it is recommended to cover it when not in use. Frequent hand washing, as well as good general hygiene for people and dogs, is recommended.
Routine check ups by your veterinarian - including a diagnostic test for worms and heartworm - as well as a physical exam along with medical prevention, will not only keep your dog healthy but will reduce any risk to you and your family.

Q16. What is ringworm?

Ringworm is not actually a worm but a skin infection caused by a fungus. This is another zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
The fungi feed upon the dead cells of skin and hair and in people cause a classic round, red lesion with a ring of scale around the edges and normal recovering skin in the center. The fungi responsible are known as dermatophytes and a ringworm infection is more correctly known as dermatophytosis. In animals, ringworm frequently looks like a dry, grey, scaly patch but can also mimic any other skin lesion and have any appearance.

Q17. How can my pet get ringworm?

The spores of dermatophyte fungi are extremely hardy in the environment; they can live for years. All it takes is skin contact with a spore to cause infection. Infected animals are continuously dropping spore-covered hairs as infected hairs break off into the environment. Some animals are carriers, who never show signs of skin irritation themselves but can infect others readily.

Q18. Can humans become infected by ringworm?

Yes, ringworm is contagious to people; however, some people are at a greater risk than others. The fungus takes advantage of skin belonging to those with a weaker immune system. This puts young animals and children, elderly people and pets, those who are HIV-positive, people on chemotherapy or taking medication after transfusion or organ transplant and highly stressed people and animals at a higher risk. In general, if you do not already have ringworm at the time your pet is diagnosed, you probably will not get it.