Swimmer's Itch on Dogs
Swimmer's itch is a skin disease caused by parasites. This term is used for the disease when found in humans; it is called canine schistosomiasis or water dermatitis when found in dogs. Though it is very similar to the swimmer's itch parasite, the canine bug is not the same. The parasite found in dogs is called H. americana. This particular creature infects dogs and raccoons and is primarily found in mud flats and swamp lands.
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How it is Contracted
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The Pet Education website reports this parasite is passed through the feces of dogs. The eggs of H. Americana incubate in the dog waste. When ready, they hatch in water. The hatchling swims around the body of water until it finds a snail. It then enters the snail and matures. It becomes infectious when mature and will leave the snail to search for a dog or raccoon host. If they don't find a host within a day, they die.
H. Americana's Process in the Body
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If the H. Americana finds a host, it moves into the veins of the animal and is transported to the heart and lungs. They then travel to the intestine and liver. A male and female mate during their time in the intestinal tract and the female moves into even smaller veins to lay her eggs. The eggs are pushed through the vessel and intestinal walls and into the intestine due to the contractions of the vessel and intestines. They are then passed out of the body through the feces.
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Symptoms
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Though in humans swimmer's itch primarily affects the skin, in dogs this H. americana parasite can also cause gastrointestinal problems. Symptoms of a dog's infection may be pustules and itching on the skin and diarrhea with mucus and blood. Your pet may become very thin due to this diarrhea and a loss of appetite. In serious cases, animals may actually develop cirrhosis of the liver.
Treatment
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If your dog displays any of these symptoms you should consult your veterinarian. If she diagnoses your pet with this parasite, she will probably prescribe a 10-day course of fenbendazole. She may also suggest Benadryl as an effective medication to help with the itching skin. Vet Info's website cautions pet owners to be aware that many Benadryl products contain other ingredients that could harm your animal. They warn to make sure you are giving your dog plain Benadryl.
Warning
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Swimmer's itch in humans is a hassle, but its related parasite infection found in dogs can be very serious. Try to avoid early morning water play with your dog, since that is when the infectious parasites leave the snails. This will not prevent infection, since they are present in the water for 24 hours, but it may decrease the risk. Try to avoid areas that are known to contain this bug. Prevention is the best cure, but may not always be possible. Therefore, any dog owner should be aware of symptoms of infection in their animal. The earlier it is treated, the better the outcome.
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References
- Photo Credit dogs face image by leafy from Fotolia.com
