In this article, we will show you what parasites can affect dogs, the most frequent methods of deworming Chihuahuas, and how to use them to prevent and treat them.
Internal and external deworming and vaccines are among the most common preventive treatments for dogs. Thanks to these treatments, the possibility of dogs having external and internal parasites, passing them on to other dogs or their owners, and transmitting related diseases becomes significantly reduced.
It is imperative to remember that dogs and humans share many parasites and that they can be the cause of many serious diseases. Read on and find out all you need to know about deworming dogs.
External Parasites and How to Prevent Them
The most common external parasites in dogs are fleas and ticks. They are arthropod parasites that feed on the blood of dogs and cats. Cats do not host fleas and ticks as often as dogs because their frequent grooming allows them to eliminate them. However, it is essential to prevent fleas and ticks in all pets because they can transmit serious diseases.
Ticks are very seasonal, and they usually appear in spring and less so in fall and summer. They are easy to locate because they stick to the dog in a fixed location.
By contrast, fleas are very mobile and often challenging to see, so much so that indirect techniques - such as looking for the parasite's feces - are used to know if a dog has fleas. To check if your dog has fleas, place it on a surface covered with white paper, and brush its coat. Check through what has fallen and select the black specks.
Place them on cotton wool or a similar piece, moisten it, and press it. If they are flea feces, a reddish furrow will appear around it.
Deworming Chihuahuas from Ticks
You will have to use topical insecticides to control ticks and fleas and deworm the dog. These include flea collars, pipettes, shampoos, sprays, etc. In the case of ticks, a direct application on the dog works well, and due to their seasonality, it is easy to get good results.
In the case of fleas, you need to approach the problem differently. You can deworm dogs and cats all year round, but the parasites are difficult to eliminate due to their mobility. You will need to treat the whole environment surrounding your pet, including its bed, the floor, etc. Here you can learn more about how to remove fleas from dogs.
The mosquito is also an external parasite that feeds on blood and can transmit serious diseases. In the case of dogs, mosquitoes can infect them with leishmania and heartworm. The effectiveness of insecticides applied to the skin, such as flea collars or pipettes, is somewhat lower because mosquitoes only come into contact with the dog at the time of the bite.
Therefore, it is recommended to take additional measures such as using mosquito nets and avoiding walks in the moments of most significant mosquito activity, in addition to using repellents.
When Should You Deworm Your Chihuahua?
Puppies are likely to host intestinal parasites, which can significantly risk their growth and development. It is always recommended to deworm the mother with an anti-parasitic treatment when mating to ensure she is adequately vaccinated.
Thus, the mother's risk of transmitting internal parasites to the puppies during lactation is reduced. Once weaned, we must deworm the puppies one or two weeks before the first vaccine dose. They must be in perfect health for the vaccine to create solid and effective immunity.
Blood parasites often affect adult dogs. It is necessary to be in contact with a mosquito to get them. If a disease is transmitted through a mosquito bite, it can take months or even years to manifest symptoms.
Internal Parasites and How to Prevent Them
There are two main groups of internal parasites in dogs:
- Intestinal parasites include tapeworms (flatworms) and earthworms (roundworms). Increasingly frequent are certain intestinal protozoa such as Giardia. Drugs with active ingredients derived from fenbendazole are generally used, although other active ingredients exist.
- Hematologic parasites can be macroscopic (visible to the naked eye), such as the heartworm, or microscopic (protozoa), such as leishmania or rarer parasites. Heartworm is prevented with ivermectin, among other active ingredients. In the case of leishmania, however, a vaccine has started to be implemented.
Suppose you wonder how often you should deworm your dog to prevent and treat internal parasites. In that case, you should know that preventive treatments are performed at an average frequency of three months, although this varies depending on the animal's risk factors. Hunting or working dogs are dewormed more often, while apartment dogs are dewormed four times a year.
Preventing Internal Parasites
Prevention of internal parasites in dogs is carried out by alternating between active ingredients against roundworms and against flatworms. Blood-borne parasites, transmitted through mosquito, tick, and flea bites, must be controlled, especially during the spring and summer when the parasites are most active.
You can't choose the deworming method; a veterinarian must supervise all anti-parasitic treatments. Whether your dog is a puppy or an adult dog that has just been adopted, the first step should always be to go to a specialist and start the best deworming treatment and the vaccination schedule as they see proper.
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they suffer from any condition or pain.
Source: animalwised
