Parasites That Can Live on Your Pet's Skin

Last updated 3 months ago

As seasoned pet owners know, there are a number of parasites that can live on your pet’s skin, some can be dangerous. The most common of these include:

Fleas- Fleas are dangerous on a number of levels. To begin with, they carry other parasites that your pet may contract by accidentally swallowing an infected flea during the course of grooming. In addition to being potential vectors for infection, fleas also irritate your pet’s skin. Many dogs and cats are allergic to fleas and will scratch themselves bloody as a result. To avoid these problems, talk to your San Jose veterinarian about effective flea control measures.
Ticks- Ticks are an unfortunate fact of life for every mammal, including humans. Unlike fleas, ticks generally don’t gather in such large numbers as to cause serious irritation or allergic reaction in your pet. Instead, ticks carry a variety of diseases that they can spread through their bite. Lyme disease is only the beginning: Owners can contract Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever just by touching an infected tick that is on one of their pets!
Mange- Mange is an illness that can make your dog look and smell bad, caused by the canine equivalent of scabies. Like scabies, mange-causing mites can be passed from dog to dog through direct contact and possibly through contaminated bedding. However, mange is not a disease that develops in healthy canines. An animal with a perfectly functioning immune system will not develop mange, even if it carries the mites that cause the disease.

If you are concerned that your pet may have contracted a skin parasite, visit Lincoln Avenue Veterinary Clinic. Our gifted veterinarians will give your pet the best possible care. Since we are also an emergency pet hospital, you won’t have to worry about getting prompt treatment for your pet’s condition. For more information, call (408) 565-8601 today.

Disclaimer:

The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your veterinarian to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a doctor-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the medical office or any individual veterinarian.