External parasites in pets: What is the best way to deal with them?

April 24, 2024

The beginning of the summer season may be delayed, but planning for proper prevention against external parasites should start early.

We are all familiar with terms like fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and mites, knowing that they can cause various diseases in pets.

Diseases like Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Leishmaniasis, Heartworm, and Lyme disease are just a few examples of the conditions that can be transmitted to pets, the treatment of which is difficult, expensive, and often ineffective. Therefore, to avoid reaching such a point, emphasis should be placed on prevention, with a proper and comprehensive approach tailored to the measures and needs of each pet.

Is there a single product that can target all external parasites together? Is there something that lasts a long time? And of course... it doesn't cost much?

The purpose of our article today is to sort through the options available, briefly outline the advantages and disadvantages of each, and ultimately arrive at our conclusions and choices.

Spot-on

The most widely used product in the last 20 years. With the revolutionary formula of a modern (for that time) substance, fipronil, it managed to largely address the largest volume of external parasites. This was about 20 years ago. Fipronil became surpassed, parasites began to develop greater resistance to it, and fortunately for all of us, new substances are occasionally added to modern spot-on, to effectively cover a wide spectrum of parasites.

Duration of action: 1 month

Advantages:

Ease of use, they are placed in the area between the shoulder blades and along the spine.
They cover the largest volume of external parasites.
They have a repellent action.
Minimal side effects.

Disadvantages:

They are directly dependent on weather conditions; the dog/cat should not get wet 2 days before and 2 days after application.
They last less than a month, so the owner needs to plan to reapply the spot-on.
Incorrect placement can lead to reduced effectiveness.
Most dog products are not suitable for cats, and vice versa; in some cases, applying a dog product to a cat can cause toxicity, even leading to death.

Pills

Modern method of protection. There are one-month and three-month duration pills.

Duration of action: 1 month or 3 months

Advantages:

Not affected by water, hence considered a preferred method at least for autumn-winter.
They have a long duration of protection.
They perform very well against mites (sarcoptic/demodectic), always in combination with the rest of the treatment recommended by the veterinarian.

Disadvantages:

Protects the dog and/or cat only from fleas and ticks, meaning it should always be used in combination with another product.
They do not have a repellent action, allowing fleas or ticks to feed on the host.
Side effects have been reported, such as allergic reactions and sudden deaths in epileptic animals.

Collar

Lately, increasingly modern technologies in the form of collars are emerging, providing us with powerful tools against external parasites.

Duration of action: From 4 to 8 months

Advantages:

Long-lasting protection, with some lasting up to 8 months.
There are collars whose coverage against Leishmaniasis can reach up to 93% (according to research and not the product's usage instructions).
They are highly resistant to water (hydrophobic-lipophilic).
Gradual release of the substance, ensuring a steady concentration of the active ingredient throughout its use.

Disadvantages:

It is a collar, so there is always a risk of it being cut and subsequently destroyed, especially for highly active animals.
High cost compared to other methods of protection.
Adverse reactions have been reported, such as irritation in the area of application, itching, and localized dermatitis.

Herbal remedies

The lead is taken here by citronella-based products, a substance that is applied against dipteran insects, namely mosquitoes and midges. It is always used as a supplementary measure with another product.

Duration of action: Less than 1 day.

Advantages:

Herbal product, without contraindications and adverse effects.
Easy to use in spray form.
Pleasant aroma.
Economical packaging.

Disadvantages:

Does not repel fleas and ticks.
Requires daily application.
Always given in combination with a medicinal product, not suitable on its own as a preventive measure.

Oil-based formulations

Again, we meet citronella, now in an oil-based form. This is an adjunctive method of prevention that can be combined with the primary prevention method.

Duration of action: 1 month

Advantages:

Herbal product, without contraindications and adverse effects.
Pleasant aroma.
In spot-on form.
Slow-release formulations, with a duration of action of about one month.

Disadvantages:

Does not repel fleas and ticks.
Always given in combination with a medicinal product, not suitable on its own as a preventive measure.
More expensive formulations compared to citronella sprays.

Immune boosters

They are administered following the veterinarian's prescription during the period of April-May for approximately one month. The purpose of the treatment is to boost the dog's immune system in preparation for the summer.

Duration of action: Throughout the summer season

Advantages:

Provides specific protection to the pet's body against threatening factors.
Covers the entire summer period.

Disadvantages:

Specifically targets boosting the organism against Leishmaniasis.
Significantly increases the cost of prevention.

Vaccines

Currently, the only vaccine against external parasites is the one against Leishmaniasis. Although it is a vaccine, it has low protection rates (below 83%) and increased costs.

Duration of action: 365 days

Advantages:

It has a long duration of coverage (365 days).
Increases overall protection rates against Leishmaniasis.

Disadvantages:

Low protection rate for a vaccine (many cases of vaccinated dogs have been diagnosed with Leishmaniasis).
The cost, especially in the first year, is not negligible.
Adverse reactions are quite common (necrosis and abscesses at the injection site, vasculitis, anaphylactic reaction, etc.).
Prohibited for puppies under 6 months old.

Slow-release antiparasitic injection

"Slow-release antiparasitic injection" specifically targets protection against mosquitoes and the transmission of Dirofilaria (heartworm) in dogs.

Duration of action: 370 days

Advantages:

It has a long duration of coverage (370 days).
Provides absolute protection against Dirofilaria.
No serious side effects have been reported.
Provides coverage for certain internal intestinal parasites (Ancylostoma caninum & Uncinaria stenocephala) for 4-5 weeks after injection.

Disadvantages:

The cost increases proportionally with body weight, making the injection very expensive for large dogs.
The injection is administered only at the beginning of each spring.
Prohibited for puppies under 6 months old.

Pill for Heartworm

Monthly administration of milbemycin, exclusively for protecting the dog from heartworm.

Duration of action: 1 month

Advantages:

Administered from a young age (including under 6 months).
Provides absolute protection against heartworm.
No serious side effects were reported.
Provides monthly coverage against hookworms and roundworms.

Disadvantages:

Must be given accurately every month (e.g., every 6th of March, 6th of April, 6th of May, etc.) throughout the year.
Cumulatively, the overall cost over time is higher than the anti-parasitic injection.
Many people confuse and avoid the pill for internal parasites, believing they have universal coverage from milbemycin pills. This is incorrect; only the combination provides complete coverage.

Conclusion:

No single product is a cure-all. The final coverage plan will be determined based on the geographical area where the pet lives, the prevalence of parasites in the area for each external parasite, whether it lives indoors or outdoors, and of course, the financial ability of each owner.

So, for areas where there is a presence of:

Mosquitoes, we must compulsorily use either:

The slow-release anti-parasitic injection once a year during the spring season.
Or the monthly heartworm pill.

For ticks, fleas, and lice, we can make combinations such as:

Collar + Monthly spot on
Collar + Monthly or Quarterly pill
Monthly spot on + Monthly or Quarterly pill

Optionally, a citronella product may be applied as an adjunct. In consultation with your veterinarian, you can consider administering an immune booster for greater protection.

Whichever method of prevention you choose, make sure it fully covers all types of external parasites. The absence of coverage for our pets, even for a few days, can lead to irreversible illness!