Pets, especially dogs and cats are often treated as family members. As a pet parent, it is your duty to provide your animal companion with the proper care at the most difficult occasions. Experts believe that pets, espeically dogs require special care during summer.

Even though pets are vulnerable to parasite infection at any time, experts believe that it is during the summer and spring that these parasites become more prevalent. As a pet parent, it is helpful to be knowledgeable about pet parasites that can make your pet’s life a misery during the summer.

Fleas

Fleas are one of the most common pet parasites that affect your pet in summer. Fleas can thrive in extreme climatic conditions. They are also known to survive without any host, i.e. once they gain access to your house, they can thrive on carpet, furniture or clothes.

Flea can cause the following symptoms in your pet:

• Hair loss
• Allergic dermatitis
• Skin inflammation
• Pale gum
• Hot spots
• Excessive scratching or licking

You can treat flea infection using flea medication and products like PetArmor Plus, PetArmor FastCaps. Some of the preventive measures against flea infestation are flea powder and flea traps.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms are parasites that feed on your pet’s intestines and deteriorate his health. Weight loss, tiredness and diarrhea are the major symptoms of tapeworm infestation.

There are several types of tapeworms that can affect your pet in different ways. Tapeworm infection is difficult to contain and often requires expert opinion.

Tapeworms in pets are also known to affect humans. Hence, it is advised to run regular tests on your pet for tapeworms, especially when he is showing any of the related symptoms.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes thrive on summer season and  if you have not adopted any preventive measure, your pet can become a sitting duck for mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes can not only cause skin inflammation and allergies but can also act as carriers of different viruses and worms.

Some of the preventive measures to protect your pet from mosquitoes are to confine him indoors when mosquitoes are active (dusk and dawn) and to use pet mosquito repellant

Foresee mosquito infection in pets if you live close to wooded areas or water.

Ticks

Ticks are one of the worth mentioning dangerous parasites that can have an adverse affect on your pet’s health during summer. Ticks usually attach themselves to the host’s body and thrive on their blood.

Usually difficult to notice, these parasites do not let go of their hosts easily and have sufficient armory to cause infections.

Some of the common symptoms of tick infection in pets are:

• Body rashes
• Fever
• Constant scratching

Ticks can cause some serious illness like rocky mountain spotted fever, lyme disease and anaplasmosis. A most advised means to deal with ticks is to examine your dog’s coat regularly, especially after he has spent time outdoors and to get the help of a veterinarian when you suspect tick infestation.

Keep your beloved one safe and sound this summer by foreseeing all the parasitic infections and adapting respective preventive measures. Do not hesitate to take him for a detailed checkup at least once a month.