Getting The Facts On Fleas, Ticks, Heartworm And Kennel Cough

The most widely accepted external parasite treatments currently available for pets are Frontline, Advantage, Revolution and Bio-Spot. These well-known dog and cat flea treatments provide one month of solid protection.

Bad news to the flea, Advantage flea works due its active ingredient imidacloprid, which works on the nervous system of the flea causing paralysis and subsequent death. Within 12 hours of application, 98-100 percent of fleas are dead.

Brands like Frontline flea and Advantage flea killers have almost instant results and long lasting protection. Your pet need not suffer due to fleas if the treatment is on hand. All you need to do is choose the best dog or cat flea medication for your situation.

Mites, or ticks as they are often called, are external parasites living off the blood of mammals, reptiles and birds. The American dog tick is arguably the best known of the five in North America.

Now for the scary stuff: Ticks are only second to mosquitoes in transmitting diseases to humans. Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, equine encephalitis, and ehrlichiosis. Additionally, they are responsible for transmitting livestock and pet diseases.

Another common kind of mites are the wood ticks that live in the Rocky Mountains. Some common weapons to combat them are tick collars and anti-flea/tick shampoos. Warm weather means an increase in the tick population and the need to monitor your dog for these parasites. When a tick is found it should be completely removed. Please use extreme caution when removing a tick because if part of the tick is left in the animal the chance of infection increases.

Unlike diseases passed by ticks, heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, and the larva then live in the bloodstream of the animal bitten by the mosquito. The parasites go through several stages before becoming adults. Once adult, the heart worms travel to the heart to live off the blood supply. Symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing may ensure, and the end result is heart failure.

No owner would like to see their pet die of this terrible parasitic disease, fortunately treatment is available if the disease is caught early enough. Interceptor for dogs is one such treatment, which also tackles hookworms and ascarid infections.

Another common infection is kennel cough. Dogs are very susceptible to this highly contagious form of bronchitis, hence the name, as it can spread in areas where dogs are kept in close proximity. Prevention is possible through vaccinating for canine adenovirus, distemper, parainfluenza, and bordetella and the infection itself treated with antibiotics.

By: Rebecca Foxton

Dog enthusiast Rebecca Foxton can help you defend your dog or cat's health with Frontline Flea and Tick. She is a contributor on the recognized site www.dogbuffs.com with her article series on Flea Control.

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