Can Heart Worms, Fleas And Various Parasites Bring About Canine Health Problems?

Taking the correct medical action against heart worm, fleas and other parasites can help get rid of them and minimize the chances of developing other canine health problems. Many products have come up in the commercial field to protect dogs from heart worms, fleas along with other parasites like hook worms, whip worms, round worms, lice, ticks etc.

Of all parasites, fleas are most likely to produce hyper sensative responses in your dog. This can cause the infected animal to start scratching, which may occasionally grow to be extreme enough to cause open, bleeding wounds. The scratching may also grow to be so severe that dermatitis occurs in the infected area of the dog.

The continual biting by the fleas and ticks can create extreme discomfort in the dog to the point where they are not able to lay down or rest comfortably. If left unchecked, your pet may actually appear to have a severe skin condition rather than showing the signs of a serious flea or tick infestation. Eventually this can also lead to secondary bacterial infections which can produce additional canine health problems. These bacterial infections may also result in a smelly odor coming from the infected area.

The majority of flea and tick problems can be recognized early on when the owner takes the time to examine the dog frequently. The problem is easier to spot in shorter haired dog breeds. In dogs with lengthier hair, you need to make certain and separate the hair so that you can easily observe the dogs skin. Depending on the personality of the dog, this may require a little bit of patience but it really is worth the effort.

Internal parasites will be more difficult to detect for the dogs owner and may require the services of your vet. For example, if anemia is present then your vet may need to take blood test to detect internal parasites. While other signs like pot belly may be recognized by the owner, the dog will definitely need to undergo examination and testing by your vet which can include fecal and blood smear examinations.

Many commercial, over-the-counter remedies are becoming available which allow you to treat some of these parasites yourself. These are typically applied either topically or by ingestion. Bear in mind that the majority of these products are in fact preventative care and not really intended to treat a dog that has already become infected. As is often suggested, make sure to consult your vet before you start any treatment program or if you suspect your pet has other canine health problems.