Canine leishmaniasis is one of the most dangerous diseases that dogs can have, to the point that can end up being deadly for them if it is not detected in time. In addition, it can also affect humans, and the worst thing is that it is endemic to many places, such as South America, the Mediterranean region, Africa and Asia.
It is a disease that is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. When the parasite bites the animal, Leishmania, which is from the sandfly family, enters its body. It may take time to know that our friend has been infected, so it is important to know how to prevent canine leishmaniasis, since no vaccine capable of curing it has been developed so far.
Leishmaniasis has no cure, but it can be easily prevented if we take a series of measures, such as:
- Before the good weather starts, put an anti-mosquito collar on your dog that you will find in veterinary clinics. This is especially important if you live in an area where it is endemic. The efficiency is 95%.
- Likewise, you can also put a repellent pipetteAlthough it is not as effective as the necklace (its effectiveness is around 85%), it can help.
- Take your friend for a walk during the day (between 8 a.m. and 17 p.m.), since at night is when mosquitoes are most active.
- It's advisable place mosquito nets, whose holes are tiny, in the windows and doors.
Image - Petsonic.com
Today we also have a vaccine to prevent leishmaniasis, with a very high efficiency (around 99%). They are given three first doses, with a three-week interval between vaccines, and from the second year an annual one is given. The price of this vaccine is 50 euros, and only those dogs that are not infected can be vaccinated.
If you suspect that your dog has problems, feel free to take him to the vet.