4 Pest Related Illnesses To Watch For In Your Furry Friend

Summer is a great time to play with your pet and go on adventures together, but it’s also when pests are most active. Some of these pests can even infect your pet with illnesses. There are many kinds of pests out there that you need to be on the lookout for, especially when it comes to spotting the symptoms of disease. Here are four common pest-related illnesses you need to look out for this summer.

4 Pest Related Illnesses To Watch For In Your Furry Friend

1. Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is one of the most common illnesses carried by ticks. Dogs will usually show symptoms between two and five months following the initial infectious bite, with the most common being a high fever, swollen joints and lymph nodes, apathy, and loss of appetite, with some developing kidney diseases as a result of the infection. Other animals can contract the disease but are much less likely to do so, experiencing much fewer and less severe symptoms.

2. West Nile Virus

West Nile virus is often carried by mosquitoes. While birds are most susceptible to infection, mammals like cats and dogs can also become infected with a bite. While many animals do not show signs of symptoms and are not affected, others (especially horses) can develop symptoms as bad as paralysis and even die from the disease.

3. Botflies

While not an illness themselves, botflies are a volatile and dangerous creature for pets. Latching onto unsuspecting animals in tall grasses, they burrow into the skin and lay eggs. This can cause seizures, aggression, blindness, and lumps in the skin. Larvae will often travel into the brains of infected cats, likely leading to death.

4. Babesiosis

Babesiosis are a type of parasite that live inside blood. Mammals like dogs, cats, and livestock are susceptible to it, often the result of a tick bite. Symptoms of infection include fever, weight loss, muscle tremors, anemia, hemolysis, jaundice, constipation or diarrhea, swollen and discolored internal organs (liver, kidneys, gallbladder, brain, heart, etc.), and red urine. Some pregnant animals may experience complications and temporary infertility, too.

Keeping your pet indoors all summer isn’t fun for anyone, but make sure to take precautions when venturing into the great outdoors with your companion. If you suspect your pet may have contracted an illness while outside, contact professionals, like those at Seattle Emergency Veterinary Hospital, immediately. Most illnesses will be treatable quite easily, meaning you’ll be back to enjoying the weather in no time at all.