Fleas & ticks are blood-suckers, causing a lot of infections to dogs. Being very small, they nestle unsuspectingly on the pets. They are a source of a variety of problems and irritation for the pets. Let us discuss the ways to minimise the menace. |
The most commonly faced problem by pets is "external parasitic infestation by ticks and fleas." As real little nasty critters, they hide out in grass, cracks and crevices and catch the unsuspecting pets. they bite the pets and proceed to drink all the blood it can get. These little bloodsuckers can be stubborn pests to eliminate if give a chance to take hold.
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Life
cycle of Fleas and Ticks |
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There are several ways to treat tick and flea infestation in pets.
Fortunately, wide arrays of pest control products for pets are available : foggers, sprays, dips, powders, dusts, collars, oral liquids and tablets. These products contain either one of the following chemicals.
How to control Ticks and Fleas?
To control ticks and fleas, understanding their behaviour is important. The latest research suggests that
IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS
Before using any insect product, read the label instructions completely and follow directions exactly.
Use caution when using shampoos, sprays or topical spot-on near your pet's eyes, ears and genitalia
Observe your pet closely after using insect products. If he exhibits unusual behaviour, or becomes depressed, weak or uncoordinated, contact your vet immediately.
Keep in mind that some adult-strength products are too harsh for young puppies, and that dog and cat products are not interchangeable since the strengths and formulas of the products differ.
Store products away from food and out of children's reach.
Flea allergy continues to represent the most common hypersensitivity in dogs and cats. The importance of flea allergy includes both the dermatitis resulting from allergy and the potentiation of other coexistent diseases. Flea allergy tends to aggravate atopy, and they are often observed together. Flea allergy also results in dry scaly skin (xeroderma), which may intensify pruritus. In general, flea allergy is a major reason for treatment failures or recurrence of clinical signs in cases with multiple allergies.
The skin disease caused by fleas is now recognized as a specific hypersensitivity reaction. The development of flea hypersensitivity under natural conditions is variable with regard to age. Flea allergy has been documented in dogs as young as 6 to 8 weeks. By contrast, some dogs may live with a flea infestation for many years before becoming allergic. Therefore the onset of flea allergy may be observed much later in life, unlike canine atopy, which has a typical onset between 1 and 3 years of age and rarely after 6 years. Flea allergy should be included in the differential for any pruritic dog, young or old, with potential flea exposure.
Flea antigen has classically been described as a low-molecular weight hapten. More recently two additional allergens of much larger size than previously recognised have been identified. The importance of the newly recognized high molecular weight hapten is their increased binding to dermal collagen. These haptens induces a sequence of reactivity from a stage of no observable reaction (the induction period), to one of delayed dermal responsiveness followed by one consisting initially of an immediate type reaction and then a delayed reaction, then followed by an immediate type reaction only and finally no reactivity, which is a stage of desensitization. In addition to the antigenic stimulation, flea saliva by itself contains histaminelike compounds and enzymes that may have an irritant effect. Immunoglobulin response documented both an IgE and an IgG antiflea antibody production.
Other recent evidence suggests the occurrence of different types of immunologic responses in addition to the classical immediate and delayed type of hypersensitivity. Late onset or late phase IgE mediated response has been recognized in both canine atopy and flea allergy. This cellular response occurs 3 to 6 hours after the antigen exposure and interaction with specific IgE. Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity reaction (CHB) has also been associated with the immunologic responses to flea allergy. When this phenomenon occurs, there is an infiltration of basophils in the dermis in response to intradermal injection of antigen. Sensitization may occur from either IgE or IgG. Basophils are attracted through chemotactic response and on subsequent exposure with allergen undergo degranulation and release mediators. The end result is a response characterized by features similar to both immediate (Type I) and delayed (Type IV) reactions.
Intradermal allergy testing
Intradermal allergy test with flea antigen is a convenient, reliable, and expedient method of diagnosing flea hypersensitivity.
The test is conducted by injecting 0.05 to 0.1 ml of each substance histamine (positive control), diluent (negative control) and Flea antigen intradermally. A black marker is used to identify the injection sites, which are best located in the glabrous area of the abdomen and therefore in most cases not requiring removal of hair. Following the injection of antigen, approximately 15 minutes should be allowed for optimal recording of the reaction. The reactions are graded from 0 to 4+. The histamine wheal represents a 4+ reaction and the saline wheal a 0. Grading is done by comparison to the histamine and saline controls.
The size of the reaction and its redness and turgidity are all useful criteria. In general, a 4+ reaction is a wheel with a mean diameter equal to or grater than the saline control wheal plus 75% of the difference between the histamine and the saline control diameters. A 3+ is equal to or greater than the saline control diameter plus 50% to 74% of the difference between the saline and histamine diameters. A 2+ is equal to or greater than the saline diameter plus 25% to 49% of the difference between the saline and histamine diameters. A significant reaction would be 2+ or greater, to indicate hypersensitivity to fleas.
For example, if the histamine wheal diameter is 12 mm and the saline control 4 mm, a 4+ reaction would be 10 mm or greater.
4+ = 4 mm + 75%(12-4)
= 10 mm (or greater)
3+ = 4 mm + 50%( 12-4) = 8 mm (to 9.9 mm)
2+ = 4 mm + 25% (12 4) = 6 mm (to 7.9 mm)
A 1+ reaction is not significant. A 2+ is significant only if it is indurated and erythematous and fits the history. A 3+ and 4+ are significant if they fit the history. In the event of a negative immediate response, the injection site should be evaluated 24 and 48 hours later for a delayed reaction. The delayed reaction will show not the typical wheal and flare but rather an area of induration and skin thickening.