Introduction
If you've ever had a parasite, you know just how unpleasant they can be. In many cases, the symptoms of parasite infection aren't very obvious. If your dog seems lethargic or isn't eating as much as usual or has coughing fits, it could be time to see the vet—and have them run some tests to figure out what's wrong.
Fleas
Fleas are small, brown insects that live on animals and suck their blood. They can cause skin irritation, anemia, and allergic reactions in dogs. Fleas are most common in warm weather but they can be found year-round in some areas of the world.
Flea eggs are white or light yellowish-brown with a flat base, while adult fleas are brown to black with flattened bodies and long legs (about 1/8 inch long). Flea larvae look like tiny white grubs with no legs; they're much harder to see than adult flea forms because they resemble tiny specks of dirt or dust on your dog's coat rather than moving insects like adults do. It's hard for us humans to see these little critters without using a magnifying glass!
Ticks
Ticks are small, eight-legged arachnids that attach to the skin of dogs and other animals. They can carry diseases that can be transmitted from ticks to humans and pets. It's important to check your pet for ticks after they have been outside in an area where ticks live, such as wooded areas or grassy fields.
If you find a tick on your dog, remove it carefully with tweezers (or use an appropriate tick removal tool if you don't have tweezers). If you're removing an embedded tick with tweezers, place some petroleum jelly on the head of the tick first before gripping it tightly between two fingers so it doesn't break off inside your dog's body when pulled out of his fur by force--this will help prevent infection at both entry points: where he was bitten by another animal carrying disease-causing organisms; as well as where he was attacked by this parasite itself!
Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny insects that live in the ear canal. They feed on the skin cells and hair of your pet, causing itching, scratching, and redness. In addition to these symptoms, you may notice hair loss around their ears as well as a bad odor coming from them if they have been infected for a while.
Ear mites are highly contagious among cats, dogs, and rabbits--any animal with fur-covered ears can contact them! However, they can be prevented by regularly cleaning your pet's ears with a special shampoo or solution designed for this purpose (ask your vet). Treatment involves medicating both sides of the head with drops placed inside each ear canal daily for three days; any excess liquid should then be wiped away from around the edge with cotton balls dampened with warm water before allowing them access back into their cage or bedding area again so as not let any remaining medication get onto surrounding surfaces which could cause further harm if touched later on downtime periods when treated animals return home after being treated at veterinary clinics where such things happen often enough already due to lackadaisical owners who don't follow instructions properly nor take proper precautions when handling medications themselves either because they're too busy thinking about something else entirely such as work-related issues etcetera rather than paying attention fully during treatments involving medications which require concentration levels higher than those achieved while reading emails
Heartworms
Heartworm disease is a serious condition that can be deadly. Heartworms are parasitic worms that live in the heart and lungs of dogs. They are spread by mosquitoes, which carry them from animal to animal when they bite them.
Heartworm medication is pills or injections that prevent heartworms from growing inside your dog's body (this does not kill existing adult heartworms). You can give your dog a monthly pill to protect against this disease!
Signs of heartworm disease include coughing, loss of appetite, and lethargy--so watch out for these signs if you think your pet might have it!
When you notice symptoms of a parasite infection
If you notice symptoms of a parasite infection, talk to your vet about the best treatment for your pet. Parasites can cause harmful effects on dogs. If they aren't treated, they can lead to other health problems like gastrointestinal issues and anemia. Parasites are also known to spread from animal to human through contact with infected dogs or their feces, so it's important that you know how to spot them if you see any signs of them in your dog.
Types of parasites that infect dogs include:
- Roundworms (Toxocara canis) - Roundworms are white in color and look like little pieces of spaghetti when seen through the microscope; they're mostly found in puppies under 2 months old but can live up until adulthood as well--so even older dogs could still have these type of worms! You may notice something unusual happening around their eyes (like excessive tearing), vomiting after eating raw meat products such as raw chicken livers/gizzards/heart meats (which contain high amounts), diarrhea with blood present somewhere along with mucus-like material coming out too these would all be signs that something might be wrong here!
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of how to spot and treat parasites in dogs. If you notice any of the symptoms we discussed here, it's important that you get in touch with your vet immediately. Don't try to self-diagnose or find solutions on your own--it could lead to serious health issues for your pet!