GESPETFOOD’s veterinary team warns you about possible autumn diseases.
The flying insect that transmits leishmaniasis, finds in this time of the year one of its moments of greater proliferation, so it is important that our pet is protected with preventive measures such as vaccination against leishmaniasis and the use of antiparasitic products, such as collars, pipettes, sprays or shampoos.
This parasite is widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin, but it needs a particular insect, which in Spain is the Phlebotomus perniciosus mosquito, to bite an infected dog and then a healthy one so that it can spread among the population.
In addition, leishmaniasis screening tests are very important because leishmaniasis is a disease that sometimes occurs asymptomatically, but whose severe symptoms can be aggravated if our dog’s immune system is affected by the arrival of cold weather.
What are the symptoms and how does the disease manifest itself:
In its initial stage, the disease can manifest itself up to 6 months after the bite and can be noticed through dermatological pathologies. These symptoms may be accompanied (or not) by other non-specific symptomatologies:
- Muscular atrophy.
- Apathy.
- Episodes of fever.
- Excessive tearing, swollen eyelids.
- Lameness without apparent cause.
More specific symptoms may also appear, such as
- Disproportionate nail growth.
- Swollen glands.
- Characteristic alopecia (bald patches, ulcers) in certain areas of the body, such as ears and around the eyes.
- Thinness and weight loss for no apparent reason.
How to prevent / avoid leishmaniasis?
- Repellent in the form of spray, pipette, aerosol, collar, etc.
- Vaccination against leishmaniasis.
- Good nutrition to keep the immune system in good condition.
- Periodic serological tests.
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, run to the veterinarian, they will help you very kindly.
We hope you find our information and recommendations helpful. If you want to contact the GESPETFOOD veterinary team, write us at info@gespetfood.com and follow us on our social networks @gespetfood for more tips.