What Dog Owners Need To Know About Sandflies
November 2, 2020
Just when you thought it was safe to step out of the house and go for a nice walk along the beach, there’s another disease-carrying bug you have to watch out for.
The disease is called Leishmaniasis and it is caused by a flesh-eating parasite transmitted by an infected female phlebotomine (which is just a polite way of saying blood-sucking) sandfly. If she is infected with protozoan (single-cell) Leishmania parasites, she can transmit these flesh-eating bugs into your blood with just one bite.
Yes, humans can contract this disease as well, but you can’t catch it from your dogs. It is more common in tropical areas where this sandfly hails from: countries like southern Mexico, South and Central America and the Mediterranean. Reports of recorded cases in Oklahoma, Ohio, and Texas have now brought the sandfly to our North American shores.
The good news is, only a small percentage of people and dogs who contract the disease develop any symptoms.
So what are the symptoms of Leishmaniasis?
There are three forms of Leishmaniasis:
- Visceral - attacks the internal organs and the most common form found in dogs.
- Cutaneous - attacks the skin (most common).
- Mucocutaneous - attacks the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat (least common).
The one you have to worry about is Visceral Leishmaniasis that attacks the internal organs. The symptoms include:
- Fever
- Lack of appetite
- Muscle weakness
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nose bleeds
- Blood in the stool
Sometimes your dog may exhibit the cutaneous form of Leishmaniasis. In this case, your dog may develop hyperkeratosis, a thickening and hardening of foot pads and muzzles, as well as loss of pigment. Your dog will lose the shine of his or her coat and experience hair loss. Hard lumps may also appear under the skin, which can be surgically removed. The cutaneous form of Leishmaniasis is more common in cats.
Can Leishmaniasis be treated?
Yes, the disease can be treated with a CDC-administered drug called sodium stibogluconate. Alternative treatments are also available, including allopurinol and/or amphotericin B. Your dog might also need IV support and antibiotics and be put on a recovery diet.
Now that these flesh-eating parasites have reached North American shores, it won’t be long before they develop a vaccine or some sort of deterrent. If they can do it for ticks, they can do it for sandflies.