Ectoparasites are those which live on the outside of an animal's body.  These include fleas, ticks, lice and mites.  Fortunately, we have good ways of controlling ectoparasites in our pets.  Below is a list of the most common parasites we see and recommendations to prevent these unwelcome house guests!

Fleas are the most common ectoparasite of our companion animals.  Adult fleas are found on the pets, but they only comprise a small part of the flea infestation in your home.  The majority of the flea population lives in carpet, bedding and other similar places in the home.  Adult female fleas will lay eggs constantly when on a host animal.  These eggs will fall into the carpet, where they will hatch into larvae and then into pupa.  The pupa live in cocoons until they feel vibration overhead, then erupt out of their cocoons onto a new host.  Fleas are obligate parasites, meaning they need to have a host animal to survive, and do not survive long without a host to feed on. 

When implementing a parasite control program, several considerations need to be made:  Has there been a flea problem in the house before?  Are any animals infested currently?  Are the pets currently on a flea preventative?  If there is an infestation, treatment is aimed at not only eliminating the adult fleas that we see on the pets, but also at targeting eggs, larvae, and pupa within the home or yard. 

There are many different flea preventatives on the market.  Some are better for pets with flea allergies, some contain a flea birth control (an insect growth regulator that makes the fleas sterile and thus eliminates egg production) which is ideal for infested homes, and so on.  We can make a targeted flea control program for your pet once we have evaluated your unique needs.  The most important part of flea control (especially here in Texas) is to have continuous year-round administration of the preventative as fleas can sometimes survive during mild winters here. 

Please note that some generic brands of flea preventatives are toxic to pets (especially cats) - always seek a veterinarian's advice before applying a new medication to your pet! 

Ticks are arthropod parasites that also feed on animal's blood.  Ticks have an extensive life cycle lasting years.  Female ticks lay eggs in the spring, usually in dense vegetation (fields, woods, trash, organic debris), and the eggs then hatch into larvae within a few weeks.  The larvae find their first host, usually a rodent or bird, and take their first blood meal.  This allows them to mature into the next stage of life called the nymph stage.  The nymph ticks will become inactive during the winter and re-emerge the next spring.  They will climb to the tips of grass stalks and attach themselves to a host animal (any mammal, including humans).  These ticks are very small at this stage, usually only the size of a freckle or dot, and are often not felt by the host animal.  After the nymph ticks receive their blood meal, they will mature into adult ticks.  Adult male and female ticks will mate in the fall while attached to the host animal.  The ticks will stay attached anywhere from several to 8 days, and then fall off the host.  The male ticks die, and the female ticks become inactive during the winter and lay their eggs the next spring, starting the cycle over again.

Tick control is aimed at primarily reducing the breeding grounds for ticks.  If you are having  a tick problem on your property, removing organic matter, keeping lawns and fields mowed, and treating any rodent problem will help reduce your tick populations.  Most of our companion animals get ticks from hunting, running through the woods, or other similar activities.  Many of the flea preventatives on the market today also have some tick repellent qualities as well.  There is also a prescription medicated collar that works very well against ticks.

Ticks are problematic because they transmit several diseases their host animals, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlicia, and others.  If you notice ticks on your pet and it is acting sluggish or abnormal in any way, your pet should see a veterinarian to rule out these tick-borne diseases.

Manually removing ticks
 If your pet has frequented an area that may be prone to ticks, a thorough inspection upon returning home is usually the best way to prevent ticks from coming into your home.  Run your hands over your pet's entire body, and feel for any small hard bumps. Ticks are most likely to be found around the head, neck, ears, and feet, but they can be attached anywhere.  Removing the ticks as soon as possible is ideal because ticks spread diseases usually only after being attached for over 24 hours.  It is sometimes hard to remove the tick, though, because when ticks feed, their saliva hardens around their heads, helping them stay attached for many days.  The best way to remove a tick at home is to dab the tick's head with some rubbing alcohol, then using tweezers, gently grasp the tick as close to the pet's skin as possible and use steady pressure to pull the tick slowly off your pet.  A local inflammatory reaction is common, but if you notice any discharge, worsening irritation or redness, then your pet may need to see a veterinarian.  Infection is more likely if the tick's head is not removed with the body and remains underneath the pet's skin.

There are three common types of mites we see in our pets:  Otodectes mites, Demodex mites, and Sarcoptic mites. 

Otodectes - These are ear mites, which are common in kittens, puppies, ferrets, and small mammals, especially those coming from shelters or other crowded conditions.  The mites are spread by direct contact with other infested animals.  Affected pets generally have very itchy ears with a coffee-ground appearance debris within their ear canals.  Though people can get these mites, it is very uncommon.

Demodex - This is a mite that is found in hair follicles in all dogs and cats.  With demodectic mange, these mites overgrow and kill the hair follicles.  The pets will have patchy areas of hair loss but are not generally itchy unless there is a secondary skin infection.   This type of mange is not contagious to people or other animals.

Sarcoptes - These mites cause a severely itchy mange that is highly contagious.  Animals affected with these mites are usually very miserable and scratch constantly.  They also commonly have severe secondary skin infections.  These mites can be contagious to people.

There are different treatments for each of these mite infestations.  Luckily, most pets will not have to worry about exposure to these mites unless they are in a shelter situation or other place where multiple animals are housed. 

Lice are species-specific ectoparasites that are most commonly found in our small mammals and only rarely in our dogs and cats.  Because they are species-specific, an animal has to get lice from another infected animal of the same species.  Humans get lice from other humans, dogs from other dogs, and so on.  Usually treating the pet will kill the lice and prevent any future problems.  If your pet continues to get re-infested with lice, environmental control will be needed and a source of the infestation needs to be identified.