Parasites/Infections Flashcards
What is the flea life-cycle?
Adult fleas lay eggs, eggs hatch into larvae that molt 3 times, the 3rd molt produces a white larva that spins a cocoon in which the larva pupates when the pupa hatches an adult flea emerges and searches for a host to feed on.
What are the percentages of life stages in an infected house’s?
5% are adult fleas, 10% are pupae, 35% are larvae and 50% are eggs.
What must an effective flea treatment programme achieve?
It must kill all fleas currently on the pet, it must kill all fleas on other animals in the household and must kill all fleas in the environment.
What kinds of flea treatment/prevention products are there?
Topspots, flea collars, sprays, chews, shampoos, mousses, powders but some are toxic.
How should a house be cleaned from fleas?
Vacuum carpets and furnishings where pets sleep to remove fleas and eggs. Shake or beat rugs and pet bedding outdoors so that fleas and eggs fall off, and wash pet bedding every week, ideally at above 50°C to kill fleas. Treat furnishings and carpets throughout the home with combination I.G.R. treatment (Indorex Fogger, Indorex Target and Indorex Spray).
How is Flea Allergy Dermatitis caused?
Some dogs have allergies to flea saliva, so this causes itching. When the dog scratches open the skin, infection, swelling, skin irritation, redness, and patches hair loss can occur.
Where are flea eggs laid?
Eggs can be laid in the coat and fall off the dog onto bedding/carpet. Eggs can also be laid on damp ground, in carpets, behind panelling and in air ducts.
What is flea dirt and which life stage of flea eats it?
Flea dirt is flea faeces (so digested blood) and flea larvae eat this.
Where do pupa live and how long do they pupate for?
Pupa lives in cracks in the flooring, they pupate for up to a year.
What makes a flea pupae hatch?
Heat, movement and exhaled CO2.
How many times are flea topspots usually applied on small dogs vs large dogs?
1 on small dogs, and 3-4 on large dogs.
How often should pets usually be treated with flea products for?
Every 4-6 weeks but always check the labelling.
What are some flea topspot products?
Revolution, Frontline, Advantage, Advocate, Broadline, and Bravecto.
How does the Revolution topspot product work?
Revolution works by penetrating the skin and entering your pet’s bloodstream. Selamectin (active ingredient) also redistributes into the skin from the bloodstream and kills adult fleas, ticks, and ear mites, and prevents flea eggs from hatching. It is also an anthelmintic, which means it fights to expel parasitic worms.
What ingredient in some flea products is toxic to cats?
Permethrin.
How resistant are flea pupae?
Highly, products like sprays cannot kill them but it can inhibit hatching for months.
What cat product can also be used on rabbits?
Advantage.
What is the only tick found in New Zealand?
The New Zealand Cattle Tick.
What is the official name for the New Zealand Cattle Tick?
Haemaphysalis longicornis.
Where is the New Zealand Cattle tick usually found and picked up?
In the North Island, when dogs wander through pastures where cattle graze.
Ticks are not insects they are?
Arachnids like mites and spiders.
What is the lifestyle of a tick?
The tick ready to feed climbs a piece of grass and latches onto the animal that passes by. It buries its mouthparts into the dog and stays there until it is fed. When fed it falls off of the animal and heads off to lay eggs or to move onto its next life stage. It goes from egg> larvae (seed tick)> nymph and then adult. Ticks feed on three different hosts in their life.
What tick is eradicated from New Zealand? What is its official name?
Brown Dog Tick. Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
What do ticks need blood meals for?
For producing eggs and moving onto the next life stage.
How long does tick development take?
2 years.
How can ticks be treated/prevented?
Some products like topspots from Frontline protect dogs from ticks. Never pull out the tick, apply an insecticide or burn it to make sure the head is removed.
What is Mange?
Infection caused by mites.
What mites that cause dog/cat mange are in New Zealand?
Ear Mites, Cheyletiella, Sarcoptic and Demodectic.
What is the most common puppy and kitten ear mite?
Otodectes cyanotis.
Do ear mites just live in the ears?
Ear mites live in ears usually but can also live on other areas on the body.
