As with people, dogs can also suffer from diseases. Evils that tempt with the correct functioning of their bodies that without due attention can cost the life of the dog as well as can leave it under a condition that disables your motor, brain, or immune skills. Fortunately, most of the diseases in dogs of which there are records have been successfully medicated or even alleviated by methods of vaccines and health controls, but this does not mean that all that should be ignored in light of everything.
Even today there are cases of certain diseases in dogs that they continue to claim victims even within this health control scheme; One of these diseases is Thelazia and we will expand on this a bit below.
What is thelazia in dogs?
The Thelazia is a Asian origin disease that spread throughout the European continent and that is characteristic for causing eye discomfort in humans and animals (yes, this disease is one that can be transmitted from a human to an animal).
This disease is caused by the presence of a parasite named Thelazia callipaeda that is found in a type of characteristic fly of fruit trees that are manifested during quality seasons. These flies are attracted by the secretions of the animals' eyes and when they land on them they manage to leave the parasite that soon begins to cause discomfort and swelling. Something peculiar is that for all this to occur, sometimes many months pass and without the host or the animal perceiving it in a significant way.
The life cycle of this parasite consists of a fixed host, one that the parasite can feed on and that flies can frequent so that the larvae that it leaves behind can move inside the fly that is in where infections mature until they touch the ocular secretion of another host. This whole process can take a month for the larva to mature and is ready to hatch more larvae in its host. The case with the dog is that when the infestation is imminent and prolonged, the parasite can be visible inside the eye. This is more visible for dogs that live near fruit trees so when environmental factors influence (such as the time of year) the parasite will become more visible on the surfaces of the animal's eye.
Symptoms of thelazia in dogs
Among the symptoms that can be perceived in the dog at the time of detecting the infection in a considerably advanced stage They are tearing, conjunctivitis, serous and even purulent secretions (if the environment makes them more suitable for secondary bacterial infections), itching, discomfort around the eye. The most extreme case that can be observed is an ulcer in one or both eyes and this is after 30 days from the entry of the parasite into the eye (given the period of appearance of the symptoms which is 7 to 15 days).
For avoid these types of infections or even to treat them the best thing is to find a way to eliminate the parasites directly, this is something that only a veterinarian can do and that is not always permissible whether the worms are visible or not.
Also the use of specialized medications allows to combat the infestation of parasites but provided that it is prescribed by a health professional. Even if prevent the spread of these parasites In our pets it is difficult, it is best to avoid as far as possible the proliferation of fruit flies that can start the cycle of this parasite and keep dogs in closed places for as long as possible knowing certain conditions that contribute to the contagion or the spread of this parasite among other species of dogs and even humans and the opposite cases where humans start the contagion.