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 Dr KG Umesh
is a Post Graduate in clinical medicine with special interest in Internal Medicine and Dermatology. At present, he is working as Regional Waltham Associate for South Asia. Dr. Umesh has been a faculty member in a university and has had his own animal practice in Bangalore.
AND HE is here to answer your queries!
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 About the show :
Dog is man's best friend. But thus far there has been no television show in India dedicated to pets.
Heavy Petting has changed that. On this weekly show, dogs, cats, fish, birds, rabbits, snakes, all creatures big and small, find their way into our hearts and homes.
Heavy Petting, celebrates pets through features, news, biographies, blogs, and humorous moments.
Hosted by actress and animal lover Seema Rahmani, this first of its kind show, invites people to share stories about their adored pets.
There is also a vet segment that answers pet-related queries and a celebrity pet segment that features celebs and their beloved furry friends.
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| Ask our pet consultant Dr KG Umesh.... |
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Question :
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hello doctor,
i have one dog and three cats. all of them get along very well. however, as my dog takes a walk on the mountain everyday, he has a major flea problem. all the pets catch this problem very easily. is there any permanent solution for the fleas? also, what are heartworms? are there any preventive medicines availble in india?
regards,
Seema
Posted By:
Suresh,[India]
Date:
Saturday, February 21, 2009 9:45 PM
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Answer :
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If your dog has fleas, he may be constantly scratching and biting himself, especially along the back and around the base of the tail. Some individuals are actually allergic to the flea's saliva and for these dogs, the bite of a single flea is enough to provoke a violent skin reaction. Fleas can be hard to find on a dog or cat. You may see the brownish-black fleas themselves, moving through your dog's hair or you may notice the presence of dark specks of material - flea dirt (faeces) - in his coat. The female flea lays her eggs in the hair coat of the animal. Because the eggs are not sticky, they tend to fall off the animal into areas where the dog sleeps or plays. The eggs then hatch into very small, worm-like larvae. The larvae feed on organic debris, especially the dried blood droppings (flea dirt) left by adult fleas. The larvae molt and spin cocoons to form pupae that usually emerge as young, hungry adults in about 3 weeks; under certain conditions, however, the pupae can remain dormant for nearly a year. Once emerged, an adult flea can live about 2 weeks before taking a blood meal from a host. Once it begins feeding, it must continue to feed regularly or it will die. Adult females begin laying eggs within 1 to 2 days of feeding.
Successful control of ticks and fleas depends on eliminating these pests from the dog and cats and the environment. To control ticks or fleas on a dog, all animals in the household must be part of the flea/ticks control program. Flea control products for adult dogs/cats include a variety of drugs and chemicals available as collars, shampoos, sprays, dips, powders, long lasting topicals , and oral medications.
There are two basic categories of flea/tick control products:
· Adulticides : These products kill adults fleas and
· Insect growth regulators (IGRs)/insect development inhibitors (IDIs) : These products prevent fleas/ticks from hatching or maturing.
The veterinarian will choose a product or products that combine safety, efficacy, and ease of use for the client. Often a combination of adulticide and an IGR or IDI is used.
Environmental Control : A complete flea and tick control program also includes a thorough treatment of the pet’s environment. Places where dogs/cats spend most of their time will have the greatest numbers of deposited eggs and newly emerged adult fleas and ticks. Thorough cleaning of the house and yard should precede any application of insecticides. It is always best to treat the dog/cat and the environment on the same day. The use of these insecticides must be preceded by a thorough vacuuming; special attention should be paid to the areas under furniture, carpets, near pet bedding, and along moldings. A product containing an IGR and an adulticide should be used as well. Follow label instructions for the proper use of and precautions concerning sprays and shampoos etc. Most products in India are available as liquid concentrate that needs to be diluted in water for use in dogs and environment. Make sure that other pets/dogs he frequently contact/visit are free from fleas and ticks.
Some popular topical Spot -on products which are available with vets are Promeris, Revolution, Frontline, Advantix or advocate and Vectra 3D. They are safe and applied on the skin once a month. Oral tabs for fleas are programme, Comfortis and Capstar which are given once a month. Likewise we have several concentrated liquid products containing pyrithrins which are diluted in water to 1-2% and used as spray in environment.
I am not sure heart worm is a problem in our country and is suspected only in imported dogs or cats. Talk to your vet
Answer By:
Dr KG Umesh
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