Common Flea Health Issues For Pets

Fleas are major causes of discomfort and diseases for your pet especially in hot weather when the parasites are desperate to find a place it can hide away.

However, hiding under a pet’s skin is not the only thing a flea does to a pet, it has to feed to stay alive. In the process of feeding, it can transmit various diseases to the animal or cause some through their bite.

However, hiding under a pet’s skin is not the only thing a flea does to a pet, it has to feed to stay alive. In the process of feeding, it can transmit various diseases to the animal or cause some through their bite.

These are some of the health issues that arise from a flea bite.

Anemia:

Depending on the number of fleas feeding off of your pet, they will begin to lose so much blood that they become anemic, you will notice your pet’s temperatures is too low and their gums – previously blood red – turns pale. If this condition is left untreated, it could lead to serious complications and eventually, death. The first thing to do after treating your pet is to get rid of every flea in its surrounding otherwise the infestation continues. Supply your pet with adequate vitamins every day to fast track their recovery.

Flea Tapeworms:

Fleas generally are supposed to stay stuck to their host animal but that is not always the case as some of them tend to fall off. If a pet swallows a flea that is tapeworm carrier, it will develop symptoms for tapeworm which will in turn deprive them of their nutrients. They live in an animal’s intestinal tract. The easiest yet disgusting way to confirm if your pet is infected with tapeworm is by searching for tapeworm segments in their feces that appear to be like rice. Once you have confirmed the presence of tapeworms, don’t hesitate to administer medications to kill tapeworms such as Panacur C, Canine Dewormer or HomeoPetWrm Clear.

Hot spots:

Bites are not only painful but itchy too. The infested animal is seen constantly scratching that itch which results to Hot spots. The affected parts should be treated as quickly as possible with anti bacterial shampoo that contains tea tree oil like Be Soothed suitable for dogs alone. It will soothe their pain. Use a hydrocortisone spray to reduce the itches. Product like Excel Hydrocortisone Spray and Tea Tree Oil Spray are most effective.

FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis):

Some animals are allergic to flea saliva, if your pet is allergic, every symptom caused by a bite will escalate. They itch a lot more and a seen scratching feverishly. The animal will continue in this miserable state if the situation is not curtailed with monthly flea preventative.

Cat Scratch Disease:

This disease is common to cats, dogs and people. If a cat or dog becomes infected they exhibit the following symptoms, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes and fever. This fever is very dangerous and can lead to a pet’s death, so if you suspect your pet has been infected, take him or her to a Vet for treatment.