translated from Spanish: Ticks and fleas can cause fever in humans and lameness in pets

Ticks and fleas are a health risk for dogs and cats, and the family members who live with them, especially the children. Through their bites, these parasites can inoculate micro organisms into the bloodstream that can cause bleeding, fever and other health problems.
“In addition to suck blood, fleas and ticks can transfer parasites and bacteria to the body of the animal and the human. Conditions are transferred especially to children, who usually play with animals, so it is essential to have a preventive action. Deworming of the animal is a protective factor for human health”, explains veterinarian Patricio Moreno of the laboratory Drag Pharma.
Among the effects in humans, has been detected that Brown tick that infests dogs and is common in the country, can bite humans and inoculate the Ehrlichia bacteria. This may cause symptoms similar to influenza, such as fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and joint disorders. If the disease worsens, it may require antibiotics and hospitalization.
Meanwhile the fleas, have inside a bacterium called Bartonella henselae deposited on the nails of the cat. When the dog scratched a person can transmit “the Cat Scratch Disease”. Its symptoms are fever, swollen lymph nodes and decay. It occurs especially in children and, sometimes, in the medical consultation may be confused with meningitis.
Tick causes the same Ehrlichia lameness of the Brown tick, to be inoculated through the bite in the bloodstream of the dog can cause micro internal bleeding at eye level, on gums and joints that can lead to lameness in the dog. In some cases, it can cause even anemia. The disease should be treated with antibiotics.
Alopecia caused by allergic dermatitis to the flea bite, whose saliva have irritating substances is also common in dogs. These allergies are more common in dogs with sensitive skin, such as the pug and bulldog. Both scratching due to itching, they lose hair in the form of T in the area of the tail, where the parasites are often installed. In some cases, a wound with bacteria and secretion, is generated which is most common in Golden retriever, labrador and German shepherd dog.
Like the dog, the cat can suffer allergic dermatitis caused by the bite of the flea, causing collapse of the fur.
In the cat, flea bites can also inoculate the disease “mycoplasmosis infectious feline” (known as “Feline Infectious anemia”), causing yellow mucous, internal bleeding in eyes and gums, loss of appetite and decay, and can cause even severe anemia and death.
5 keys to deworming your pet to prevent these diseases in humans and pets, veterinarian’s Drag Pharma advised:. Not relax when there is alternate days of cold and heat. Just some days with temperature about 26 degrees for that hatch the eggs of fleas and ticks, infesting pets.
. Change of Wormer every four months or at least once a year, to not cause tolerance of the parasite to the active principle.
. De-worming pets from puppies. In the case of small dogs, it is recommended to spray systems. For dogs over 6 months, applied systems spray, pipettes (which have higher concentration of antiparasitic drugs) and sanitary bathrooms.
. Use antiparasite year-round necklaces, because they act as a system of maintenance and extension of the treatment against fleas and ticks.
. Be attentive to possible allergic reactions to the antiparasitic. They are rare, but may occur and it should consult a veterinary doctor.

Original source in Spanish