Mary Allen
As nice as it is when your dog is allowed to go on holiday with you – it is not entirely harmless for him. Because various parasites lurk in different regions of the world and can even pose a mortal danger to your four-legged friend.
Which parasites can become dangerous for your dog varies greatly from a holiday destination to a holiday destination? Because you can protect your pet from some of the risks posed by pests with vaccinations, you should consult your veterinarian a few weeks before you travel.
Common Diseases Caused by Parasites: Leishmaniasis & Babesiosis
The most common parasitic diseases include leishmaniasis and babesiosis. Leishmaniasis occurs in particular in the Mediterranean region, in Asia, in the USA, and generally in tropical and subtropical countries. The blood parasite disease is transmitted by insect bites, such as sand flies or butterfly flies. Leishmaniasis often manifests itself as severe skin eczema without itching. The disease, which occurs in phases, cannot be cured and is often fatal. The best way to prevent infection is to use special fly sprays that repel the insects.
Babesiosis occurs worldwide, but there are particularly many cases of the disease in the tropics and the countries of the Mediterranean region. Like leishmaniasis, babesiosis is a blood parasitic disease. However, it is transmitted by ticks. While in some cases the condition will go away on its own, in others it can be fatal. Special skin sprays and tick collars offer the best protection against tick bites. You can also have your dog vaccinated against both babesiosis and leishmaniasis to prevent infection.
Hepatitis & Ehrlichiosis in Dogs
Especially when traveling to tropical and subtropical areas, but also when staying in the Mediterranean region, there is a risk of infection with Ehrlichiosis for your dog. This blood parasite disease is manifested by fever, cramps, and paralysis. Because Ehrlichiosis extremely weakens the dog’s immune system, the risk of further diseases increases.
Hepatitis in dogs, also known as hepatozoonosis, is also transmitted by ticks. However, the infection does not occur through a bite, but through the consumption of a special type of tick. Hepatozoonosis occurs in France and Italy as well as in East Asia, India, and Africa. This blood parasite disease can also be harmless or fatal. Both Ehrlichiosis and hepatitis can also be prevented with skin sprays and tick collars.