Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

130 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
Treatment: Lice show little resistance to treatment and do not live long
off their host. They are easily killed with most insecticides, including limesulfur,
pyrethrins, and pyrethroids. The infected dog and all animals who have
been in contact with her should be treated every 10 to 14 days for four weeks
with an insecticide shampoo, dip, or powder. Infected bedding should be
destroyed or thoroughly cleaned (lice do not live long off the host), and the
dog’s sleeping quarters and grooming equipment disinfected.
Severely anemic dogs may require a blood transfusion or vitamins and iron
supplements.
Prevention: Frontline Plus is labeled for control of lice.
PELODERA DERMATITIS (DAMP HAY ITCH)
This disease is caused by the larvae of a threadlike worm found in decaying
rice hulls, straw, marsh hay, and other grasses that are in contact with damp
soil. The larvae burrow into the skin of the dog’s chest, abdomen, and feet,
causing intense itching and pimplelike bumps. Later, you may see raw,
crusted, inflamed areas where the dog has scratched and chewed the skin.
The condition is found in dogs who are bedded on damp hay and straw.
The diagnosis is made by finding the worm larvae on microscopic examination
of skin scrapings.
Treatment: Bathe the dog with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo such as
OxyDex or Pyoben to remove scales and crusts. Follow with an organophosphate
insecticide dip such as Paramite (see Using Insecticides, page 131).
Repeat the dip in one week if the dog continues to itch. Apply topical antibiotic
ointment to inflamed skin areas three times a day.
Clean out old hay and straw. Wash the dog’s bedding and spray the sleeping
area with an organophosphate insecticide containing malathion or diazinon.
Change the bedding from hay to cedar shavings or shredded paper, or provide
the dog with a fabric-covered sleeping pad that is washed frequently.
FLIES
Adult flies may deposit their eggs on raw or infected wounds, or in soil where
larvae can penetrate the dog’s skin.
Maggots
A maggot infestation, called myiasis, is a seasonal, warm-weather condition
most often caused by the bluebottle or blow fly, which lays its eggs on open
wounds or on badly soiled, matted fur. Debilitated dogs and old dogs who are
unable to keep themselves clean are susceptible to maggots.