Tiny creatures that cause big problems
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Regular treatments for intestinal and external parasites help keep your pet healthy
In panic, a friend calls me about his dog, who has suddenly started to stagger around, her eyes unfocussed but obviously frightened.
Bella is, as her name implies, a very pretty dog, part spaniel, part terrier and now around seven or eight years old.
“What do you think I should do?” he asks.
All sorts of thoughts go through my mind. I’m not a vet, but I think of seizures and heart problems.
“Take her directly to your vet,” I say. “Don’t wait.”
I am, of course, thinking of one of my cats, my old lady Susu, who went into spasms last year. Medication gradually calmed her down, but we never found the exact cause. My vet guesses that she had a seizure.
It is not until two days later that I remember the most obvious cause of Bella’s problem, and do I feel stupid! I should have thought of it right away.
Luckily, my friend’s vet knows. He first cleans Bella's ears, and are they dirty! They’re full of mite infestations too, and those mites, burrowing deep towards the inner ear, are affecting the dog’s sense of balance.
Cleaning the ears just once is not enough. The dog has to have a deep ear-cleaning for days to come, also lots of medication to treat infection.
Weeks later, she’s still shaky but slowly returning to her old self.
I’m a bit surprised, though. My friend loves his dog, who’s always looked healthy, with a shiny coat and alert eyes. He feeds her well, takes her for walks and (although he won’t admit it) has daily conversations with her as well.
“Do you give her regular treatments for heartworm and parasites?” I ask him later.
Well, he did for awhile, but it seemed such a little thing, unimportant really, and with his work and other commitments, he stopped. Now, with Bella’s health problems resolved, he himself resolves to start again.
Some vets, in fact, recommend that not only dogs but also cats should be dosed regularly. I give my dog her heartworm pill as well as treatment for external parasites once a month. At the same time, the cats are dosed too, even the two soi boys who treat my house like a hotel.
Since my memory has never been sharp, I aim for the end of each month, an easy way to remember.
In fact, different kinds of medications are available, even shots that you can give your dog once a year. Then you can schedule that shot at the same time that your pet has its vaccinations. Do consult with your vet on which kind is the best for you and your pets.
Please don’t forget. Even if your pets live inside, it takes only one flea or tick to start an epidemic - and it takes only one mosquito to give your dog heartworm or intestinal worms.
One open door, one flea clinging to your shoe, one tick hiding under a leaf, and you have lots of trouble on your hands.
