Federal Association for Animal Health, travel south with the dog

Bonn (ots)

Of the #Vacation stands in front of the door. Depending on the travel destination, dog owners are also faced with the question of whether they can take their four-legged friends #Hausgenossen to take with you on the trip. Especially southern countries can be critical and unknown #Driven mountains, because there is #Diseaseswhich are still largely unknown in our latitudes.

One of the dangerous »travel sicknesses« is leishmaniasis, which is transmitted to dogs by the bite of sand flies. The pathogen was the inspiration for the name of the disease. It is caused by a unicellular parasite, Leishmania infantum. After transmission, the pathogen multiplies in the dog, which is considered the main host, and spreads throughout its body. The infection often goes unnoticed because the incubation period can last up to 8 years.

The symptoms are often only mildly pronounced at first. Altered skin areas such as hair loss, ulcers or eczema on the edges of the ears, nose and lower abdomen can be the first signs of an infection. Lymph node swelling, weakness, loss of appetite and weight loss are common as the disease progresses. Even if there are minor abnormalities, a visit to the vet is advisable. The quicker an infected animal is treated, the greater the chance that no more will #Organ such as the kidneys as well as vessels, eyes, muscles and joints et cetera in #passion to be pulled. Drug treatment is possible, but usually long-lasting, expensive and the pathogen is usually not completely eliminated by the therapy. Relapses are therefore common.

The best #Leishmaniasis #Schutz is not to take the dog with you on trips to the distribution areas of sandflies. Of course, no dog lover likes to hear that. In addition, sandflies are at home in the popular Mediterranean travel destinations in southern Europe. The combination of vaccination and suitable preparations that repel sandflies offers a very good one #Schutz. These are available at the veterinary practice. Before vaccination, a blood test must be carried out, because only healthy ones #Dogs may be vaccinated. In the evening hours and at dusk, however, the animal should not be outdoors if possible. Fine-mesh mosquito nets on windows and doors help the nocturnal #mosquitoes keep away.

an elevated one #Risk exists between April and November. During this time, the sandflies are particularly active. The relaxed one #winter vacation so could be a good one in the south #Alternative be.