What are parasites – fleas, ticks, lice, mosquitos and mites?
External parasites, which include fleas, ticks, lice and mites live on your pet’s skin. They not only cause irritation but also can infect the animal with disease, resulting in serious skin problems. Some can also infect humans. The threat of external parasites to your pet is influenced by the type of pet, housing, state of health and environmental considerations (temperature, humidity, etc). Ticks and fleas are probably the most common external parasites seen on pets.
Signs of fleas, ticks, lice, mosquitos and mites:
- Scratching
- Mild redness
- "Flea dirt" — the black flea droppings left on your pet's coat
What are options for treating – fleas, ticks, lice, mosquitos and mites?
Control and treatment is often a two-step process: both the environment and the pet must be treated.
Prevention is better than cure! Repellents are a cornerstone of prevention. Regular use of insect growth regulators/development inhibitors will reduce the risk of fleas becoming established in the indoor and outdoor environment.
Product recommendations:
Fleas
Fleas are 2-8 mm long (no bigger than a sesame seed) with fantastic jumping ability. Adult fleas are dark brown and able to move rapidly over your pet's skin.
Fleas have eyes and antennae, which detect heat, vibration, carbon dioxide, shadows and changes in air currents, all of which indicate a possible meal is nearby. Fleas feed on the blood of animals. They can go several months without a meal. Fleas may also bite humans.
Fleas thrive when the weather is warm and humid. Depending on your climate, fleas may be a seasonal or year-round problem. Your pet can pick up fleas wherever an infestation exists, often in areas frequented by other cats and dogs.
There are four stages in the development of fleas (this cycle varies from 12 days to 6 months):
1. Eggs – 24 hours following a female and male mating. Fleas lay approximately 50 eggs per day A flea can produce 400 to 1,000 eggs in her lifetime (several months to two years, depending on the species). Female eggs are often laid on the animal, but because they are not sticky, fall off into the environment. Along with the eggs, the female flea deposits a large amount of faeces (often called 'flea dirt').
2. Larvae - Tiny, worm-like larvae hatch from the eggs and burrow into carpets, under furniture, your pet’s bed or into soil before spinning a cocoon.
3. Pupae - The cocooned flea pupae can lie dormant (inactive) for weeks before emerging as adults that are ready to infest (or reinfest) your pet.
4. Adults. Adult fleas live their entire lives on your pet.
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Ticks
Unlike fleas, flies and lice, which are insects, ticks are arachnids like mites and spiders. There are approximately 850 species of ticks worldwide. Scientists have classified ticks into two families based on their structure: Ixodidae and Argasidae.
The paralysis tick and the brown dog tick are the two most common ticks on dogs. However, it is the paralysis tick that is by far the most dangerous. It causes paralysis in a variety of forms but a ‘typical’ case starts with weakness of the hindquarters that progresses to total paralysis of all four legs. Other typical early signs include an altered bark or meow and vomiting. When the chest muscles and muscles of the throat become affected, the dog or cat is in serious trouble. Ticks are most often found around your dog's neck, in the ears, in the folds between the legs and the body, and between the toes. Cats may have ticks on their neck or face.
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is considered a serious pest as it is the most troublesome pest of dogs in northern Australia. It can also be found almost anywhere in Queensland, along the coastal and inland areas of NSW, in Melbourne and in the northern part of South Australia. The brown dog tick has no native host. It is often carried on the dog into the house where it can become a household pest
The brown dog tick uses three hosts to complete its life cycle. The female brown dog tick can lay 2,000 – 5,000 eggs in her lifetime. The development of the eggs requires a temperature of 20°C or above. This tick will happily complete its entire life cycle in the house, using the dog as its host for each stage of the lifecycle
Ticks crawl but cannot fly since they have no wings. They possess a sensory apparatus called 'Haller's organ'. This structure senses odour, heat and humidity. This is how the ticks locate their food source. They climb on tall grass and when they sense an animal is close by, they crawl on.
A tick's diet consists of blood only. The tick imbeds its mouthparts into the animal's (or human's) skin and sucks the blood. Except for the eggs, ticks require a blood meal to progress to each successive stage in their life cycle.
All ticks have four stages to their life cycle: egg, larvae (seed tick), nymph and adult.
Tick bites can cause skin irritation and heavy infestations can cause anemia in pets.
Ticks are also capable of spreading serious infectious diseases (such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others) to the pets and the people on which they feed. Disease risk varies by geographic area and tick species.
How do I know if my pet has a tick?
- Excessive licking - in the spot where the tick is.
- Loss of control - of the throat and voice box first, with regurgitation and vomiting common (stage 1).
- Paralysis - hind leg weakness/paralysis (stage 2). Total paralysis occurs last (stage 3). Laboured breathing and grunting is common at this stage.
- It is a good idea to check your dog for ticks after they have been out on walks, especially if they have been into the bush and walked through long grass. You might find 2 apparently different types of ticks. One will be small (the size of a match head) and flat and the other will be greyish in colour and often quite large (pea-sized). The first is the male tick and the second is the female after having had a blood meal.
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Lice
Lice are insects that can be seen with the naked eye. They are flattened, possess no wings
and are very host-specific. Cats and dogs have their own species of lice, neither of which infect humans. They spend their entire life cycle on the pet and feed on their skin debris.
There are several kinds of lice. Blood-sucking lice belong to the Anoplura group. Those that do not suck blood, but rather chew skin, are grouped as
Mallophaga.
Lice are uncommon in dogs and cats and usually associated with animals in poor condition. Lice are easily killed with the use of a good insecticidal spray.
How do I know if my pet has lice?
- Scruffy, dry hair coat - most common.
- Hair loss - may occur and the animal may itch, at times severely.
- Weaken - In very heavy infestations of blood-sucking lice (biting), one may detect aneamia in puppies. Mature dogs, particularly females with nursing puppies, may be greatly weakened.
- Irritation - The pest can also be a source of irritation to cats and kittens. A diagnosis can usually be made with the naked eye.
- Eggs - Lice lay eggs that look like little white grains of sand attached to the shaft of a hair.
Transmission of lice is by direct contact with an infested pet. Unlike fleas and ticks, lice do not persist or travel in the environment. Grooming instruments may, however, serve as a source of transmission.
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Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are insects thus related to lice, fleas, and flies. Mosquitoes have six legs, a pair of wings, compound eyes, large antennae, and that problematic proboscis with which the females suck blood. (Male mosquitoes eat nectar.)
To make them even peskier, some female mosquitoes can hibernate during the winter and lay their eggs in spring. They generally travel for about 3.2km from their breeding grounds, or even further if blown by the wind.
The mosquito life cycle
It only takes about 2 weeks (less if it is very warm) for the life cycle to be completed. The male and female mosquitoes find each other by the sound generated by a female mosquito’s wings, which is a higher pitch than that of the male.
Lice - Each female can lay 100-400 eggs. Mosquitoes need water as a place where they can lay their eggs one at a time, or in "rafts" of up to 200 eggs, depending upon the species.
Lavae - The eggs hatch into larvae about 2 days after being laid. The larvae (also called 'wigglers') live in the water for 7-10 days.
Pupal - the eggs mature into the pupal (also called 'tumbler') stage.
Adults - In 2-3 days, these pupae have developed into adults and fly away and mate.
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Mites and mange
Mange is a catch-all term for various skin conditions that include scabies or sarcoptic mange in dogs (known as notoedric mange in cats), demodectic or "red" mange, cheyletiella mange, and ear mite infections. They are each caused by a different mite.
The word mangy describes a ragged and uneven hair coat and damaged skin that results from mites affecting the skin and hair follicles.
Sarcoptic mites afflict dogs, cats, and other animals, including humans. It is caused by the notoedres mite. The mites, known as scabies, sarcoptic mites or sarcoptic mange, are highly communicable bugs that dig tiny tunnels into the skin where they cause intense itching, inflammation and hair loss.
Many cases of skin itching (called “pruritus”) in dogs and cats have been wrongly diagnosed by vets as allergic dermatitis when in fact the pet had sarcoptic mites. The difficulty lies in the fact that Sarcoptic Mite infestation really does look like an allergic dermatitis because the skin is reacting to an irritant... just like an allergy.
Demodectic mange or demodicosis is the most common type of mange. Caused by a microscopic mite that lives in the skin called Demodex canis, it is not contagious. It is found mostly in young dogs, who acquire it from their mothers. The mites are transferred from mother to pup during the first few days of life. An older pup cannot pick up Demodex mites, and puppies raised by hand will not acquire them, either. The mites produce a substance that can lower a dog's natural resistance to them, and in this way they multiply. Demodectic mange is more common in oily-skinned shorthairs and pubescent dogs.
Predisposition to demodicosis seems to be hereditary. Demodex mites in general are less troublesome than Sarcoptic mites, cause less itching and self-mutilation. It is not transmitted to humans and are not seen in adult dogs as often as Sarcoptic mites.
Cheyletiella mange is also known as walking dandruff. It is caused by a large red mite that is often found in kennels, and it is highly contagious. Also called a fur mite, it lives on the skin surface, and can die quickly when removed from its host. It looks like a bad case of dandruff over the top of the neck and the back. Itching is mild.
Summary of symptoms of mites mange
The intense itching results in self trauma, hair loss, dry crusty skin lesions and in some cases the dog or cat can loose large areas of fur and literally be covered with crusts and scabs.
What are my options for treating parasites – fleas, ticks, mosquitos, mites?
Tick and flea control is a two-step process: both the environment and the pet must be treated.
Prevention is better than cure! Repellents are a cornerstone of prevention. Regular use of insect growth regulators/development inhibitors will reduce the risk of fleas becoming established in the indoor and outdoor environment.
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Routine checking - Look for fleas, ticks and coat abnormalities any time you groom your dog or cat, or when you return home from areas that are likely to have higher numbers of these parasites.
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Keep it clean - Reduce the flea population in your house by thoroughly cleaning your pet's sleeping quarters and vacuuming floors and furniture that your pet comes in contact with frequently. Careful and regular vacuuming/cleaning of the pet's living area helps to remove and kill flea eggs, larvae and pupae. You may also have to treat your house with insecticides. Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water every week or two, thoroughly vacuum all carpets and crevices (throwing away the vacuum-cleaner bags afterward) and treat your pet with a good flea shampoo, or spray containing pyrethrins as an active.
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Spray your pet: Flea and tick control sprays can come as aerosols or pump bottles. Spray all parts of the animal without soaking it. Spray a small amount on a cotton ball to apply the product around the eyes and ears. Do not get any of these products in the eyes.
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Shampoos: Flea and tick shampoos help to primarily rid your pet of the fleas and ticks he already has. Be sure to work the shampoo in over the entire body and then leave it on at least 10 minutes before you rinse it off. Again, remember to protect the pet’s eyes and ears. We recommend Rufus & Coco Flea Flee with natural pyrethrins.
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Flea/lice combs: Your pet will love the extra hands-on attention he gets as you comb through his coat to remove fleas. Flea/lice combs are non-toxic and are the best method to use on ill, pregnant or infant pets. Be sure to choose a comb with 32 teeth/inch. Place the fleas you comb off in detergent water to kill them. Unfortunately, flea combing is time consuming and will not be effective in pets with flea-bite hypersensitivity.
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Once-a-month topical insecticides: These are applied to a small area on your pet's back. Some kill fleas and ticks, and others just kill fleas, so check the label carefully. Ingredients generally include permethrin, pyrethrin, or fipronil. Since many dog products can be very harmful if used on cats, read the label carefully. Remember: Do NOT use products containing permethrins on cats.
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Dips: Dips and rinses are applied to the entire animal and generally have some residual activity. They should be applied in a well-ventilated area according to your vet's and the manufacturer's directions. Be very careful not to get any of the products in the pet's ears or eyes: cotton balls in the ears and ophthalmic ointment in the eyes are helpful. Dips or rinses may contain pyrethrins, permethrins or organophosphates.
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Collars: Flea and tick collars can be effective, but must be applied snugly: you should just be able to get two fingers between the collar and your pet's neck. Be sure to cut off any excess portion of the collar otherwise that animal or other pets may try to chew on the end. Check the package for information on duration of effectiveness since some collars lose effectiveness when they get wet, e.g., if your dog swims a lot. Watch carefully for any irritation under the collar. If this occurs, you may need to use a different product.
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Need advice - See your veterinarian if your pet excessively scratches, chews, or licks its hair coat, or persistently shakes its head. These clinical signs may indicate the presence of external parasites or other conditions requiring medical care.
Ticks specific treatment
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Spray and tweezers - If ticks are unattached to your pet, you can simply remove them from your pet with a pair of tweezers. If the head is buried in the skin, use an ear bud and dab some Rufus & Coco Bug Off on the tick and remove it with tweezers when it disengages.
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Oil of citronella repellents for the environment - Candles, torches and coils containing oil of citronella are used to repel mosquitoes. These should only be used outdoors in ventilated areas and are only effective when used under windless conditions. Although helpful, they are not as effective as repellents.
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Keep it clean - Keeping the environment clean will help keep the flies away!
Keep outside garbage areas clean and drain and wrap rubbish in plastic bags before placing in trash receptacles or dumpsters outdoors. This reduces odours and attracts fewer egg-laying flies. (Reduce attractive odours by routinely scraping out and thoroughly cleaning food residues from garbage containers.) Eliminate all potential breeding materials such as rotting straw or mulch, manure, garbage and animal excrement.
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