Dog Diseases From Fleas

OverviewThere are several different diseases that are linked to fleas. Most regions of the world have flea populations, and the insects are known to infest the bodies and bedding of dogs. If flea populations are not controlled, disease and infection can cause serious harm to your dog.

Types

Many dog owners believe that fleas just cause a bit of itching but that is not the case. There are many diseases that a dog can actually suffer from that are directly related to having fleas. Diseases that your dog can contract from fleas include internal parasites, tularemia, flea allergy dermatitis, and haemobartonellosis. While not all dogs will get those diseases from fleas, many will suffer from flea infestations.

Features

Flea-borne diseases cause different but sometimes overlapping symptoms. Flea allergy dermatitis is perhaps the most common disease that affects dogs; it is an allergic reaction to the saliva of the flea results in extreme itchiness, swelling, and respiratory distress.

There are two different internal parasites that dogs can get from fleas. Tapeworms are the most common, and evidence of those worms can be found in the fecal matter of an infected dog. There is another worm that affects the dog less frequently known as dipetalonema reconditum, which is a worm that lives under the skin of the dog and can cause extreme itchiness.

Tularemia is a disease that causes fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy in dogs. It is not a common infection but can be devastating when it is present in a dog of any age.
Haemobartonellosis is transmitted by both fleas and ticks. The disease causes a dog to become anemic and may also cause it to lose weight due to a lack of appetite. Cats can also suffer from this disease.

Identification

Although a dog owner may use the above symptoms to determine if the dog is sick, identifying these diseases is best left up to a veterinarian. Because the symptoms of each of these flea-borne diseases can mimic one another it’s important to have a qualified vet do a physical exam an any necessary laboratory tests to determine what is really going on with the dog.

Risks

Any of these diseases, left untreated, puts the dog at risk of suffering needlessly. All can be treated with proper medication, restoring the dog to its previous healthy state. Untreated fever in the case of tularemia can lead to further health problems if left untreated, and in some cases even death.

Significance

The significance of these diseases is that they can affect any dog at any time, but they don’t have to. There are oral and topical preventative medications that work to kill adult fleas and keep flea eggs from hatching. When you break a flea infestation’s life cycle, you limit a dog’s exposure to diseases carried by fleas.

Dog Fleas

Dog fleas are a pesky nuisance. Any time your dog has them, not only do they annoy your pet and make her scratch constantly, they also infest the whole house, it seems.
You can easily tell when your dog has fleas. She will scratch furiously, over and over. It is important to check that there are no signs of other parasites such mange. Mange results in red skin patches and loss of hair.
Some people seem to be particularly attractive for fleas, mosquitoes and other biting insects. If you have a person like that in the house, they may know that the dog has a problem before you even notice the dog scratching.
Of course there are plenty of commercial products to get rid of dog fleas, but these are often chemical insecticides that you may not want to use on your pet or in your house. So what is the solution?
Fortunately there are some natural treatments for dog fleas. The traditional flea comb is one of them. It will get rid of a certain number of adult fleas by simply combing them out of the dog’s hair. Most dogs enjoy being combed, but be sure to do it outside or the parasites will just stay in the house and jump right back onto the dog.
Regular flea collars are to be avoided because of the harsh chemicals that they contain, but you can find all natural versions of a flea collar. Alternatively, rub a couple drops of essential oil of eucalyptus and rosemary onto a regular canvas or fabric covered collar. This will not work so well on bare leather. Watch that the dog does not chew the collar, because essential oils are strong and can burn the tissues of the mouth.
You can also get natural flea powder from many sources. Try asking in your local pet supplies store or health store, or order online. These natural dog flea treatments are usually made up of plant extracts including eucalyptus, fennel, rosemary and wormwood.
To prevent further infestations, try giving your dog garlic regularly in his food. The smell will keep parasites away. Brewer’s yeast is another natural food that has the same effect, so you can try this if your dog will not eat garlic.
At the same time as you are getting rid of fleas on your dog, it is important also to treat the house. Fleas will lay eggs and hide out in all kinds of soft furnishings including your sofas, rugs and beds.
For the house, be sure to get something that will not harm children or other pets. Usually the flea powder that you use on your dog can be sprinkled onto furnishings too, but try a spot test to be sure that it does not discolor fabric. You will need to treat furniture and mattresses, and wash sheets. Repeat the treatment twice more, every 2-3 days, to deal with any eggs that were left. You should find this is an effective way to get rid of dog fleas naturally.