Botfly Surprise

     We’ve all heard of parasites, like heartworm, ticks, & fleas that can infest our dog.  Well, not too long ago, I had the gruesome pleasure of encountering a new parasite that I had never heard of.  It made my skin crawl the more I found out about this disgusting looking creature…well more of an insect, really. It’s known as the botfly, and it’s scientific name is cuterebra emasculator.

  http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/75013/bot-fly

     This little fly’s larva had managed to infest a dog who was here for a grooming.  I noted a welt on the dog’s skin under its chin. It was rather an unpleasant site to witness what this parasite larva had done as initially I thought that the welt was an abscess. After consulting with a veterinarian, I found out that the botfly will often lay it’s eggs on blades of grass or on a rodent’s nest or mound (ie: rabbit or squirrel).  It’s here where the egg will hatch into a larva. How it manages to attach itself to a dog or any other mammal is quite interesting.  A dog can come near these burrows, probably out of curiousity, and their coat will brush up against the burrow or the grass snatching up one of these pesky larvae.  Once the larva has found its host, what happens next is the actual gruesome part.

    The larva will dig itself underneath the skin and in the process create this ”volcano-shaped” lesion, that is called a warble.  Here the lava will stay until it pupates, where it will later fall off its host through the breathing hole atop the warble.  Soon the adult larva will become a fly to start the process over again.  Some species of botflies can cause physical damage to their host and others won’t.

    Remedies for botfly infestation in dog can vary.  One sure thing is to cut off its air supply.  The hole on top of the warble can be sealed with things like vasoline, tape, or nail polish any of which ultimately asphyxiates the maturing larva.  In any case, you MUST get your veterinarian to extract the larva as its secrections will be harmful to the dog. In most cases, if one crushes the dead larvae while trying to remove it…it could prove fatal to your pooch.  When in doubt, seek advice from your veterinarian!  Written by: David Carpio, Assistant Manager, Petite Pooch Plus  Read more

More Dangerous Objects To Your Dog

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There are a few foods which can harm your dog, some you may not have ever thought as being dangerous. Gum is very hard on the stomach to digest. For humans it can take months to years for us to digest it, but for dogs they may never digest it in their lifetime. Gum can easily build up due to being hard to digest and can lead to death or health problems. Getting your dog to throw it up as soon as you find out he ate it can help prevent those problems. But if you can’t get your dog to throw it up, take him to the vet.

Salt, which can be found in almost every drink there is and most foods, can cause your dog to become dehydrated. Enough of it can kill your dog if you wait too long.

One plant which you should always keep your dog away from is the Castor Bean plant. The Castor Bean plant is the most poisonous plant in world. The plant products a fruit which can kill humans in less then twenty four hours. If your dog happens to get a hold of one of these and eat it, take your dog to the vet. The fruit will cause more severe symptoms in a dog then a human depending on how much is eaten and the size of your dog. There are many more plants which can be dangerous to your dog’s health, but this is the most dangerous.

The first two are fairly common household items, and the last one will only grow in certain areas. If you’re planning to go out camping with your dog, try to stay away from areas where this plant would grow. And the other two you should keep out of the reach of your dog.

Heat Exhaustion in Dogs

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While you’re out walking or at the dog park with your dog during a hot summer day, there is one deadly risk associated with these activities…heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can affect dogs differently depending on if you have a long or short haired dog. If you have a long haired dog, you’ll want your dog stay out of the heat for longer periods of time then a short haired dog. An average dog’s temperature will be around one hundred to one hundred and three. If the temperature is above one hundred and four, your dog will probably start reacting to the heat and will start to show problems.

If a dog is suffering from heat exhaustion, he will start to look distressed and may start circling or pacing, and may have his tongue hanging out of his mouth at weird angles. Your dog may also have glazed over look in his eyes that can also be a sign of heat exhaustion. You may also want to feel the temperature of your dog’s fur to know how hot it is. If it feels like it’s on fire, you will definitely want to take your dog over to a shady area or into some water to help him cool down.

If your dog happens to get heat exhaustion take him into a cooler area like under some shade, or if possible, inside. Once in a cooler area, put some lukewarm to cool water on your dog’s belly to cool down your dog faster. If you put the water on your dog’s back, it won’t cool your dog down as fast because the hair on your dog will get cooled more from the water meeting contact with that first. You also do not want to dump a bucket of cold water on your dog if he has heat exhaustion. That can lead to putting your dog’s body into shock and killing him. Avoid the use of ice because it may do more harm than good…cooling your dog down slowly is more effective…you do not want to make your dog shiver as this may raise his body temperature. Also, do not let your dog drink ice water when he is over-heated, this can lead to stomach cramps and possible bloating which can also result in death. If you decide to try and drive your dog to the vet, make sure the car is not hot, and you keep your dog’s temperature down on the ride there.

If you go outside with your dog during a hot day, make sure your dog can get plenty of water and make sure he stays cool. Also do not leave your dog inside a car without air conditioning. This will cause your dog to over heat quickly and possibly kill him. So remember to keep your dog safe when you go out into a hot place. You don’t want your dog to get heat exhaustion.

Traveling With Your Dog

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When you decide to go off traveling with your dog, there are things you need to get & do before you take him with you. The first one is making travel arrangements for your dog with the airline in advance. The cost of traveling with your dog tends to be at around fifty to hundred dollars depending on the place you are traveling to and time of year. It is best to travel with your dog at a time of the year with a mild temperature if he has to travel in the baggage area of the plane.

You will need to have an airline approved crate to put him in while he is traveling. For long distance flights and for dogs who are not potty trained, a doggy diaper can be useful so you don’t have a mess to clean up later.  If your dog happens to be small enough, and quiet, you could probably have your dog travel with you in the cabin. You might be able to have him sit in your lap or seat…if approved by airline personnel.  Another thing that is helpful to keep your dog entertained during the flight and out of trouble is bringing his favorite toy.

Before you get on the flight, the airline needs a copy of your dog’s health record to make sure that he has gotten the vaccinations he needs. When you arrive there, make sure to have a collar with his identification tags. And once you get on the plane, a good idea is to tell one of the flight attendants, if your dog happens to not be in the cabin with you, that he is on the flight. Most of the time they will update you on how he is doing during the flight.

Unless you really want to go spend time with your dog while you are on your trip, the easiest thing to do is to board him at your local boarding facility. This can be much cheaper, and you may be able to get your dog groomed and trained there while you are away. And your life while you’re traveling may be a bit easier while you are away…not to mention, your dog will be have a good time hanging out with his buddies and having fun running around instead of being confined to a crate and/or a hotel room.