Parasites in dogs

These small, brown-black parasites love sucking blood and are relatively easy to spot. As well as being uncomfortable for your dog, fleas can lead to serious skin problems if untreated. They can also cause flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) if your dog is allergic to the proteins in flea saliva.

The good news is that these pesky parasites in dogs are easily tackled if found. One way to determine whether your dog has fleas is to groom them with a fine-toothed comb over a moist piece of white kitchen towel. If you see reddish-brown droppings, it’s likely your dog has fleas.

Fleas can be caught from being around other dogs or cats; by someone bringing them into the house on clothes or shoes, or by another infected pet shedding flea eggs on bedding and carpets.

See your vet for advice on the safest and most effective treatment for dog fleas. It’s also important to treat bedding, carpets and soft furnishings in your house and pet bedding thoroughly, to prevent any reinfestation. And don’t forget to make sure any other dogs and cats in your home receive treatment.

Prevention is always better than cure, so use a flea treatment on all your pets regularly to keep them healthy. Consider changing your treatment every few years to ensure parasites don’t get too comfortable with it. While most flea treatments are generally suitable, if your dog is pregnant or a young puppy, it’s worth checking with your vet about the most appropriate action.

If your dog has lice, then they’re likely to have a dry, patchy coat and an insatiable itch. Dog lice are small, but visible to the human eye, as are their tiny white eggs.

There are various types of treatment available from your vet, but if lice have been an issue for a while, your pet might require more than one treatment. The simplest and most effective treatments come in the form of spot-on drops – ask your vet for advice, especially if your dog is still very young. If you have dog insurance with Petplan, you can also access our 24/7 Pet Expert Chat for advice on dog parasites. Just log into your My Petplan account to access.

Of all the parasites in dogs, ticks can be among the most dastardly. These blood-suckers attach themselves to your dog’s skin, usually in long grass or in woodland. They should be removed immediately to ensure they don’t pass on diseases such as Lyme disease, or cause an abscess.

Dog tick treatment involves removing the parasites with a special tick-removing tool – a twisting motion ensures the head doesn’t remain embedded in your dog’s skin. Again, a preventative spot-on dog tick treatment can be used if you think your pet is likely to be exposed to ticks.

Mites are tiny dog parasites spread by direct skin contact. Dog mites mean your pet is likely to be scratching vigorously and their skin will be scaly, flaking or inflamed.

If you think your dog does have mites, your vet will usually treat them using either a spot-on or oral insecticidal treatment – but you should still also regularly wash bedding and grooming equipment to help prevent the spread.

All dogs are susceptible to worms, regardless of their age, and unfortunately there are a wide range of these internal parasites in dogs to watch out for. Most worms are transmitted when your pet eats worm eggs, but they can also be passed on to puppies from their mother through the milk or placenta.

Common dog worms include:

External parasites in dogs are generally easy to spot. Look out for:

• Increased scratching
• Hair loss
• Red or inflamed skin
• Restless behaviour
• Visible fleas
• Debris in your dog’s ears

It can take time before you are aware of symptoms of internal parasites in dogs. These include:

• Worms in faeces
• Respiratory issues
• Loss of appetite
• Distended abdomen
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

Diseases relating to dog worms can pose a risk to humans – particularly children. It’s easy to accidentally contract roundworms by ingesting the parasite’s eggs from soil containing the faeces of an infected animal. In very rare cases, this can cause sight loss.

Keeping your dog free from parasites is important for the whole family. To prevent reinfection, it’s important to dose your dog with an adequate preventative product as frequently as recommended – usually monthly for puppies and then every three months from six months old and upwards. Consult your vet if you need advice on what to use.