5 common bug bites on pets
Insects can transmit life-threatening bacteria, parasites or viruses.
Bug bites are common for pets and us owners probably have gone through the occasional yelp and irritating scratches of our poor pets.
It is important to know what bugs have bitten your animals and whether it’s life-threatening or not. Insects can transmit life-threatening bacteria, parasites, or viruses so it’s crucial to focus on prevention by using veterinary-prescribed topical, oral, or collar-based medications. Concerns that your pet has been bitten or stung should also be immediately addressed with your veterinarian.
According to petmd.com these are the common bites
The obvious and well know -the flea: Flea saliva is very allergenic, so the bite of a single flea can cause a dog or cat to itch all over his body. Skin lesions from flea bites can exhibit swelling, redness, hair loss, crusting, and oozing.
Ticks: Non-engorged tick bodies measure only a few millimeters in diameter and may go unnoticed until they feeding and become engorged. Redness can occur around the tick bite; swelling and crusting can then occur once the tick is removed or falls off.
Mites: Mites like mange (Sarcoptes, Demodex, etc.) are microscopic insects that burrow deep into the layers of the skin to feed and live. Chewing their way through your pet’s skin creates inflammation and leads to secondary infections.
Ants: Ant bites cause localised pain and swelling but typically do not have significant whole-body effects.
Flies: Like fleas and ants, fly bites tend to cause pain and swelling but typically do not have significant whole-body effects. Flies may deposit eggs on your pet’s skin, especially in open sores. Within days, the eggs hatch into larvae which crawl around on the surface or burrow within deeper skin layers and lead to swelling and secondary infection.
