lo que debe saber sobre pulgas, garrapatas y su mascota

Fleas and ticks are small but mighty and can cause serious trouble for your pet. Fleas can transfer icky tapeworms to dogs or cats through ingestion, cause anemia or dermatitis, and even carry the dreadful bubonic plaque. Ticks are known for carrying Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, and more.  

In this blog, we’ll dig into the nitty-gritty of flea- and tick-borne diseases, how you can help protect your furry friend from contracting them, and how our Optimum Wellness Plans® are a great way to support your pet’s health.    

 
Enfermedades y afecciones transmitidas por pulgas 

Even though fleas carry only a few diseases, they can still wreak havoc on your pet’s body, causing extreme itching and discomfort for the suffering pet as well as distress for the owner having to witness it. Below is a breakdown of flea-borne disease and conditions, their symptoms, and how to treat them. Encontrará información adicional aquí.  

 
Gusanos planos: Tapeworms are transmitted when a dog or cat swallows an infected flea, which can occur while grooming themselves. Once inside your pet’s intestines, the tapeworms can grow up to eight inches long and are often spotted in your pet’s poop. Otros signos de gusanos planos incluyen que su mascota arrastre el trasero o se frote el ano en el suelo (evidentemente, los gusanos en el trasero no son agradables). Specific deworming medication can be administered to rid your pet of the tapeworms. 
 
Alergias a las pulgas: Some dogs and cats are allergic to flea saliva and can develop a condition called flea allergy dermatitis. Symptoms include itching, scratching, constant grooming, red skin, and fur loss. When it comes to treatment, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and special shampoos can help, but one of the best ways to avoid flea allergy dermatitis is through flea-control products (more on that below).
 
Anemia relacionada con pulgas: Though fleas are tiny, their bites can cause anemia (low red blood count) in dogs and cats with severe infestations. Los signos de la anemia relacionada con pulgas incluyen pérdida de apetito, encías pálidas, letargia y pérdida de peso. En casos extremos, puede llegar a ser mortal.

 
Enfermedades transmitidas por garrapatas 

Hay distintas variedades de garrapatas en todo Estados Unidos, y muchas de ellas son portadoras de enfermedades. A continuación se muestra un desglose de las diversas enfermedades transmitidas por garrapatas, sus síntomas y el tratamiento. If you see that a tick has bitten your pet, this is a great opportunity to use your 24/7 Pet Chat™ access or book an in-person appointment with your veterinarian (and try to safely put the tick in a jar as well). Encontrará más información sobre enfermedades transmitidas por garrapatas aquí.  

 
Enfermedad de Lyme: Los síntomas de la enfermedad de Lyme incluyen pérdida del apetito, fiebre, cojera y letargia. Si no se trata, puede causar enfermedad renal, artritis y enfermedad cardíaca. Treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics and monitoring for recurrence.
 
Fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocallosas: Los síntomas de la fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocallosas incluyen pérdida de apetito, fiebre, dolor muscular/articular, problemas digestivos y hemorragia alrededor de los ojos, la nariz y las encías. Antibiotics and possibly hospitalization are used for treatment.
 
Ehrlichiosis: Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis include weight loss, fever, joint pain, and blood clots, and is treated with a course of antibiotics or supportive care if advanced. 
 
Anaplasmosis: Symptoms of anaplasmosis include lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite, and is treated with a course of antibiotics. 
 
Babesiosis: Symptoms of babesiosis include pale gums, dark urine, jaundice in the eyes and skin, and bloody poop. El tratamiento incluye medicamentos antipalúdicos y antibióticos. 
 
Tularemia: Los síntomas de la tularemia incluyen fiebre alta, dolor, ictericia e insuficiencia orgánica. El tratamiento requiere un ciclo de antibióticos. 

 

Prevención de pulgas y garrapatas  

Afortunadamente, hay formas de evitar que su mascota contraiga cualquiera de estas enfermedades o afecciones. In addition to doing regular checks for fleas and ticks on your pet and keeping your home as clean as possible, the best way to prevent these little critters from bothering your pet is with year-round flea and tick prevention treatment.  
 
Treatment can be administered in topical and oral form. Hable con el veterinario de su mascota sobre qué método funcionará mejor en su mascota, y recuerde mantenerse al tanto de los tratamientos preventivos programados. Skipping out on treatment will make your dog or cat vulnerable to a flea or tick bite, and prevention is much safer, easier, and less time-consuming than treating the disease or condition.  

Prevention with our Optimum Wellness Plan Options 

Flea and tick prevention treatment can be applied during our super simple drop-off appointments. You drop your pet off for their scheduled appointment, go about your day, and then pick them up when it’s convenient for you. You can either purchase the flea medication as an option of your Optimum Wellness Plan or as a separate item — just bring the medication to your visit and ask our team to apply it for you. Schedule your flea and tick prevention treatment now.  
 
If your pet has an Optimum Wellness Plan, not only is diagnostic testing for Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis, fecal exams for parasites, and vaccinations for Lyme disease included, you also get discounts on most other Banfield products and services, including flea and tick prevention. Learn more about all the amazing services that are included in our Optimum Wellness Plans, like unlimited office visits, 24/7 Pet Chat™, and more. We have plans for dogs and cats for every stage of their lives.