Fleas and Worms on the Farm

in Animals on the Farm

In the country you'll likely find fleas to be a problem. Especially if you are new to your country home. After you have been there for 6 months or so and rid your pets and property of fleas you'll likely never be bothered by them again.

Of course it doesn't end at fleas! These pests and other parasites should always be given top priority as without awareness they can quickly overpower.

Flea bite allergies are the first concern for dogs, but the life cycle of the flea can cause many more troubles. Flea bites induce allergic reactions in some pets, causing a look of patchiness and discomfort. 

A Quick Lesson in Flea Control

In every instance I would get right to the veterinarian for the best prescribed treatment.

Yes you can buy medicated collars, sprays, powders, shampoos - which are all great for the interim - but if you want long term effects you will want to alter the life cycle of the flea. That can only be done with a veterinary prescribed medication. 

Other parasites in the country to watch out for are ticks, lice, and internal parasites such as hook worms, round worms, and whip worms. These all can cause affections in the health of your pet. 

Worms and Other Parasites

As an example of severity, hookworm untreated can cause anemia. Hookworm larvae pass directly through the skin and cause skin conditions with lesions in the feet region and hide. If you suspect your animals has hookworm infestation, look for skin rashes and loose bowel movements (often tinged with blood).

Round worms are most often visible in young puppies. They'll show a potbelly condition. Piperazine salts are given orally to treat for round worms. However, broad-spectrum anthelmintics like pyrantel pamoate and/or fenbendazole are also given to treat these conditions.

Many drugs have come in market to treat the fleas and other parasites. Nowadays, the medical agent called as ivermectin is highly preferred by many dog owners to treat the fleas and other parasites in dogs. This drug is available in injection form and oral form. The drug is now also available as an external application. 

Other parasites can cause a condition known as 'scooting'. Scooting is a an anal sac disease. Scooting is the dragging of the anus with the hind limbs in an extended state.

However parasites alone are not always the cause of scooting in dogs. There are many occasions in which the dog may have the scooting without any parasite. For example, the anal gland infections, tumors at the anus and injuries near the anal regions also may lead to such type of dragging of anus region, frequently by the affected dogs. 

Flea bites can also cause irritation in this area and the animal may try to bite his bottom.

Cestodiasis in dogs is the condition caused by tapeworms. In such occasions, if the animal is not treated in time, the animal may be seen exhibiting the scooting activities. Tapeworm segments passed in the stool create an itch from the parasites crawling in that area of the animal. It is those crawling activities of tapeworms that lead to severe itching.

How to tell if your animals have tape worms. A fecal sample is usually dropped off at the veterinarian. Scooting dogs need to be examined to rule out tapeworm segments, which look like rice like pieces. These segments are white in color and turn yellow when taken from the body.

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