What kinds of external parasites of dogs should we be wary of in summer

The summer sun is warm and brilliant, and dogs run and frolic outdoors, enjoying freedom and happiness. However, as the temperature rises and the humidity increases, various external parasites also start to become active, quietly posing a threat to the health of dogs. Seeing a beloved dog being tormented by parasites, feeling restless and having its health impaired, surely every owner will be deeply worried. Understanding the common external parasites of dogs in summer and taking preventive measures are important tasks for us to safeguard the health of dogs, and also a manifestation of our deep love for these furry companions.

Ticks are a major threat to dogs in summer. Ticks like to inhabit places with dense vegetation such as grasslands and shrubs. When a dog passes by, they will quickly climb onto the dog's body and look for a suitable position to suck blood. Ticks have barbs on their heads. Once attached, they will burrow deep into the dog's skin and firmly fix their bodies. After being bitten by a tick, the local skin of the dog will become red, swollen, and bleed, and there may also be itching and pain. The dog will scratch and lick the bitten area frequently, and may even cause skin damage and infection due to excessive scratching. More seriously, ticks carry a variety of pathogens, such as Babesia and Borrelia burgdorferi. When a tick bites a dog, these pathogens may enter the dog's body along with the bite, triggering serious diseases such as babesiosis and Lyme disease. A sick dog will show symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, fever, and anemia. If not treated in a timely manner, it may even endanger its life. Just imagine that an originally lively dog is tortured by a small tick, and how anxious and self-blaming the owner must feel.

Fleas are also common external parasites that trouble dogs in summer. Fleas are tiny in size but have amazing jumping abilities, and can easily jump from one host to another. They like to hide among the dog's fur and feed on the dog's blood. After being bitten by fleas, the dog will experience intense itching, and keep scratching and biting its body, resulting in red spots and papules on the skin. In severe cases, it will also cause hair loss and infection. Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, and after being bitten, they will have severe allergic reactions, such as large-scale redness and swelling of the skin, ulceration, and even trigger generalized itching and inflammation. In addition, fleas are intermediate hosts of tapeworms. When a dog accidentally swallows a flea with tapeworm larvae while grooming its hair, it will be infected with tapeworm disease, affecting the health of the intestines. Seeing the dog being tormented by fleas, unable to sit still and with its originally smooth fur becoming messy, the owner wishes to drive away these annoying parasites immediately.

Mites are also very active in summer. The hot and humid environment in summer provides ideal conditions for the growth and reproduction of mites. Common Sarcoptes scabiei canis and Demodex canis will parasitize on the surface of the dog's skin or in the hair follicles. Sarcoptes scabiei canis will dig tunnels on the surface of the dog's skin, and its excrements and the digging process will irritate the skin, causing intense itching and inflammation. The dog will scratch frequently, resulting in symptoms such as red spots, scabs, and hair loss on the skin, seriously affecting the appearance and quality of life. Demodex canis usually parasitizes in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Under normal circumstances, a small number of Demodex canis coexist with the dog, but when the dog's immunity decreases, the mites will multiply in large numbers, triggering demodicosis. The skin of a sick dog will have red spots, papules, pustules, and hair loss. In severe cases, it will also be secondarily infected with bacteria, bringing great pain to the dog.

Lice should not be ignored either. Lice will attach tightly to the dog's hair and feed on blood. For a dog parasitized by lice, the skin will be itchy and red, and there may also be hair loss. Lice reproduce very quickly. Once they settle on a dog, they will multiply in large numbers in a short time, seriously affecting the dog's health. Moreover, lice may also transmit pathogens during the blood-sucking process, causing the dog to be infected with other diseases.

Facing these common external parasites in summer, owners must take preventive measures. First of all, keep the dog's living environment clean and hygienic. Regularly clean and replace the dog's bedding, and expose it to the sun to kill parasites and eggs with ultraviolet light. Clean the indoor environment frequently, keep it ventilated and dry, and reduce the chances of parasites breeding. Secondly, avoid letting the dog enter places where parasites are likely to hide, such as grasslands and shrubs. If the dog plays outdoors, carefully check its body after returning home, especially the ears, abdomen, legs and other parts to see if there are any parasites attached. Some external deworming products can also be used, such as deworming collars, drops, sprays, etc. When choosing deworming products, select regular and effective products according to the dog's age, weight and health condition, and use them strictly in accordance with the instructions. In addition, regularly taking the dog to the pet hospital for physical examinations and deworming is also an important measure to prevent parasite infections.

Dogs are the most loyal companions in our lives. They accompany us through every spring, summer, autumn and winter with unconditional love. In the hot summer, when various external parasites threaten their health, we should use professional knowledge, careful care and full love to build a solid defense line for them, keep them away from the trouble of parasites, and let them continue to run happily in the sun and share every moment of a good life with us.