Common Parasites 37 



Fleas eat of the substance of the skin and suck blood. They cause 

 irritation of the skin, thickening of the skin and loss of flesh. 



Life History. The female flea lays from fifteen to twenty eggs in 

 some out of the way dusty corner. The young hatch in the form 

 of a worm or maggot and pass through larval and pupal stages, 

 finally attacking the dog in the adult stage. Dog fleas may hide in 

 carpets and rugs during the day and attack dogs, cats or even 

 people at night. 



Treatment. Same as recommended for lice. 



Red Mange. Demodectic Mange (Demodex folliculorum). 



This parasite is shaped like a minute oat grain and has eight 

 short legs. It lives deep in the substance of the skin in the hair 

 follicles and destroys the roots of the hair and causes irritation and 

 thickening and redness of the skin. Pustules form on the skin and 

 give it a rough appearance. The regions of the face, breast and 

 legs are generally the parts first infested but the diseased condition 

 may spread over the entire body. The hair falls out from the af- 

 fected areas. 



Treatment. This is perhaps the most difficult form of mange to 

 cure on account of the location of the parasite. Successful treat- 

 ment depends upon the use of substances to dissolve the fat out of 

 the superficial layers of the skin in order that the insecticide may 

 penetrate into the hair follicles. Kaupp recommends a preparation 

 of oleo-resin aspidii 8 parts, creolin 42 parts and alcohol 50 parts. 

 Best results will be obtained if the preparation is applied after the 

 skin has been thoroughly scrubbed with soap and hot water. 



INTERNAL. PARASITES. 



Intestinal AVorms, Round AA'orms (Ascaris marginata). 



This is the common round worm of the dog. The body is nearly 

 white, the neck somewhat curved and the mouth provided with two 

 broad lips . They vary in length from two to three inches. 



Life History. The life history of this parasite is similar to that 

 of other round worms previously described as infesting the small 

 intestines of other species of farm animals. Infestation occurs 

 through contamination of food and water by fecal material from 

 infested dogs. 



Symptoms. Puppies are perhaps more often infested than ma- 

 ture dogs, although they may also be heavily infested. The pres- 

 ence of the worms cause digestive disturbances, bloating of the 

 abdomen, nervousness, loss of flesh and unthrifty appearance. Un- 

 der ordinary conditions the worms inhabit the small intestines. In 

 some cases and especially when they are present in large numbers, 

 they may ascend into the stomach. In such cases nausea and vom- 

 iting is produced. Large masses of worms are sometimes found in 

 the bowels. 



Treatment. Prevention consists in the exercise of proper sani- 



