Some careless dog and cat owners don’t mind the presence of fleas on their pets: if it doesn’t scratch too much, there’s nothing to worry about. Do you also think that ignorance is bliss? In fact, gradually but steadily numerous fleas kill your pet, being dangerous themselves, and because of infections spread.
Contents:
Why Fleas Are Dangerous For Pets?
Cat and dog fleas do not just live on host, they do a lot of harm: drink its blood, bite and expose the risks of infection transmission. The more population grows, the more unpleasant symptoms become, and a pet starts suffering a lot.
Fleas drink its blood, bite and expose the risks of infection transmission.
Diseases Spread by Fleas
These tiny creatures transmit a lot of dangerous infections and cause different diseases:
- bartonellosis;
- dermatitis;
- plague;
- tungiasis
- murine typhus
- cat scratch and some other infections.
Some of them cause serious complications, and some are even lethal.
Fleas can cause many dangerous diseases.
How Flea Bite May Lead to Pet’s Death: Blood Loss
Yes, a single flea is tiny, but just consider the fact that it needs blood meal every day, and reproduces quickly. About a hundred of fleas drink more than one milliliter of blood a day. It is enough to cause anemia in small puppies and kittens. So if you ignore the pests, their population will steadily grow, gradually sucking more and more blood from your pet and weakening it. And, believe, even a huge dog may start suffering from severe infestation.
Blood loss is especially dangerous for puppies and kittens.
Dermatitis and Its Consequences
The reason for pets to scratch their irritated skin is fleas’ saliva that contains components causing inflammation. If an animal or human is prone to allergy, itching will develop. As the result, it will irritate and cause restlessness and nervousness. In this case, the disease is also called neurodermatoses. Besides, some pets may even go into anaphylactic shock, and this condition requires immediate medical intervention and help. Without it, a pet CAN die.
Animal itching and can bring itself infection in the blood.
Tapeworms in Cats
A cat may catch tapeworms after flea bite, especially if it had bitten rodents, possums or other homeless animals before. Just imagine how quickly an infected kitten may pass away, if parasites get all nutrition from the inside, and fleas are depriving it of blood from the outside. Double penetration is morbid for pets, especially small ones. The same risks are posed for dogs. If a puppy has some other health issues, tapeworm may appear to be lethal.
A cat may catch tapeworms after flea bite.
Pruritus in Dogs
Plague: a Minor Chance is Still a Chance
Although this infection hasn’t disturbed humanity since medieval times, it doesn’t mean that the virus is exterminated. Fleas coming to your pet from a homeless host may carry lots of unpleasant infection, including the ones causing plague. It kills within several days, and is lethal if not treated immediately. Will you be so attentive and careful to notice and distinguish its first symptoms in your pet?
These are the most dreadful occasions that may take place in case of flea infestation. If you love your pet, and want it to be healthy and happy, do not turn a blind eye on fleas. If any symptoms are revealed, take measures for flea control for dogs or cats as soon as you can, and you will suppress infestation with minimum losses.
