-
- Dog fleas
-
- Dog flea bites
-
- Preventative measures
Fleas are wingless parasites that can cause a lot of trouble to pets and their owners. Despite their species affiliation, ectoparasites can change their carrier and go from a cat, bird, any mammal to a dog. How true is the statement that fleas are transmitted to humans, let's understand.
The appearance of dog fleas
All representatives of the flea family are miniature in size. The length of their flattened elongated body varies in the range of 2-5 mm. The brown chitin is equipped with many bristles, thanks to which the insect moves freely in the dog’s coat. Fleas jump well, the length of their jump is three times greater than their visibility range, that is, in fact, the parasite cannot accurately determine the place of landing.
Dog fleas characterized by incredible stamina. They are able to adapt to changes in temperature, humidity, quickly get used to the effects of chemicals and develop resistance to insecticides.
Are fleas transmitted from dog to person?
Dog breeders and pet lovers of four-legged friends are concerned about the issue of whether fleas are transmitted to humans. This formulation of the question is somewhat incorrect, since bacteria, microbes, and diseases can be transmitted. Seen in the context that animal fleas can cause harm to humansthen there is certainly a potential danger. Parasites feed on warm-blooded blood: cats, rodents, dogs. Human blood is no less attractive to them, so fleas can bite people and move from one source of food to another.
Upon contact with an infected animal or in the case when the dog lives in an apartment or house, there are incidents when fleas pass on to people. Due to its size, relative immobility, a person is an easy prey for parasitic individuals. In addition, it is much easier to bite through human skin to an insect than the thick skin of dogs. The only argument why a person is rarely attacked by jumping insects is the lack of hair in which the flea can hide and go unnoticed for a long time. Dog parasites do not live on the human body. After the meal, they jump off and search for secluded places to lay eggs.
Feedback
“My son cannot ignore homeless cats and dogs. Recently brought a small flea puppy to the house. Due to fear that fleas in dogs are transmitted to humans, they were afraid to leave the animal in their home, but after lengthy persuasion, their son was still allowed. I had to run to the nearest pet store for special shampoos and collar. After a course of procedures, all parasites were eliminated and, fortunately, not a single flea bit any of the household. ”
Alexandra, Nizhny Novgorod
How dog fleas bite
The specific device of the oral apparatus of the insect is adapted only for feeding blood. Fleas in dogs and cats have a good sense of smell and the smell of carbon dioxide exhaled by a person or animal can easily determine their prey.Once on the body, the parasite bites through the skin and begins to suck blood. Due to the short proboscis, he has to insert his head and part of the body into the wound, so during the bite of a flea he is practically in an upright position.
Unlike hulking bedbugs or tickswhich, during a person’s bite, inject an anesthetic to avoid being noticed, fleas do not mask their presence on the victim’s body in this way. therefore for a person bites fleas very painful. During the puncture, they inject saliva, which contains an enzyme that prevents blood clotting. It is this saliva that conceals the potential dangerous harm, since thousands of bacteria are transmitted with it, among which there may be fatal ones.
After drinking a dose of blood from one wound, the insect moves a few centimeters and continues the feast. During one feeding, the flea makes three to five bites, after which it leaves the body of its victim.
Dangerous neighborhood
The fact that fleas in dogs are dangerous to humans is beyond doubt. Infection of a dog with parasites is fraught with negative consequences for its owner. In order to bring dangerous insects to the house, it is not necessary to keep pets, just pet, caress the stray dog on the street. In addition, fleas are able to switch from one animal species to another, and if before that the insect parasitized on a sick rat, it could infect its victim with a whole "bunch" of viruses and diseases.
The danger of fleas for dogs to humans depends on their species, and who was their previous "carrier". The harm of blood-sucking insects is as follows:
- The occurrence of allergic reactions in humans to parasite saliva, which manifest as itching, dermatitis, exacerbation of chronic skin diseases, fever, respiratory complications, intestinal disorders.
- The development of brucellosis - damage to internal organs.
- The transition to its victim of endoparasites - worms, tapeworms and other varieties of helminths.
- Bloodsucker bites can trigger the development of diseases such as encephalitis, anthrax, plague, and typhoid.
Feedback
“I live in a private house, and I always had several cats and dogs. Before, I somehow did not think about the fact that animal fleas could bite a person until they found strange traces on themselves. One day she accidentally slammed an insect on herself. After comparing with the descriptions, I came to the conclusion that these are fleas. I called a vet and he determined that my animals were infected cat fleas. I had to do a great job of removing parasites from all my pets and professional pest control in home."
Eugene, Kostroma
Flea Prevention
To prevent the appearance of blood-sucking insects in a house is much easier for a person than to get rid of them. Given the fact that fleas are transmitted, their appearance can be avoided. The most likely cause of parasites in the house are unprotected animals that transport dangerous insects on themselves. A dog can pick up bloodsuckers during a walk, games with other infected animals, in the entrance.
After each walk, you must check your pet's coat. If a jumping insect is detected, the dog should be bathed immediately with the use of appropriate shampoo. Dog accessories should be checked periodically: bedding, rugs, toys. Parasites do not use their host's body for permanent habitation. After saturation, they mate and lay eggs in the vicinity of their prey. As a preventative safe means, you can fill the litter of the animal with pine sawdust.
The best preventive measure is to purchase a special collar that will protect the dog not only from fleas, but also from many other insects.Proved its effectiveness collar celandine.
Well established drops that are applied to the withers of the dog. They include insecticides, thanks to which no parasite comes close to your four-legged friend. There is a large selection of such products on sale. The best drops are:
If you stroked a dog on the street and suspect that it is infected with blood-sucking harmful insects, immediately take a shower and wash your hair when you get home.
In cases where the pet is infected with fleas, it is necessary to carry out a set of measures that includes the removal of dangerous insects from the pet and processing the entire room, the apartment in which the dog lives.
