There are lots of blood sucking, disease carrying parasites out there, and they just love attaching themselves to your dog. No matter how clean, healthy and well-cared for your dog is, it can still pick up some of those nasty parasites.
External parasites
The first type of parasites are the ones you can see, called external parasites. The two most common ones are fleas and ticks. They irritate the dog and can cause it great discomfort. But these parasites can also infest them with worms and cause diseases. The flea carries tapeworm and may be an intermediate host for heart worm. The tick can cause dermatitis and and anemia, and may also carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and canine babesiasis, a blood infection.
Prevention is important, particularly if you know your dog will be exposed to fleas or ticks. You can give your dog a medicated dip bath or use some of the long lasting treatments available at vets and pet shops. There are very effective treatments available that you only need to use once every few weeks or months.
If you see ticks on your dog, they should be removed with great care. Make certain that the head of the tick is not left in the dog as this could cause infection. If you think your dog has been bitten by a tick and it becomes listless and stops eating later on, take it to the vet as it may have contracted tick fever. There are also very effective treatments against ticks available at vets and pet shops.
Internal parasites
There are four internal parasites that may infect your dog. They are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. The first three can be diagnosed by laboratory examination while the presence of tapeworms is determined by seeing segments in the stool or attached to the hair around the tail.
Do not attempt to worm your dog without the advice of your veterinarian. He will determine what type of worms are present and advice the best method of treatment. A dog or puppy in good physical condition is less susceptible to worm infestation than a weak dog. Proper sanitation and a nutritious diet also help in preventing worms. One of the best preventative measures against worms is to always have clean, dry bedding for your dog.
Heartworm infestation in dogs is passed by mosquitoes and can be a life-threatening problem. When dogs have the disease they tire easily, have difficulty breathing, cough and may lose weight even when they have a good appetite. If the disease is caught in the early stages, it can be effectively treated. There is preventative medicine your dog can take if it is exposed to to mosquitoes carrying the disease. Your vet can test your dog to see if it is heartworm-free. Again, prevention is better than cure.