1. “It is only possible to live happily ever after on a
Live each moment!
“It is only possible to live happily ever after on a
day-to-day basis.”
-Margaret Bonnano

2. Ectoparasites

3. Ear Mites:
They get it from infected animal/bedding/environment

4. Ear Mites: Otodectes cynotis

5. Ear Mites ***
Otodectes cynotis – live on skin surface in external ear canals
Clinical Signs: Brown-black, crusty exudate
Very pruritic, may have excoriations around ears
cleaning
Feed on epidural debris
Exudate: a substance secreted
Very itchy: hints cat with scratches around ears (excoriations)
Animals will also shake their heads

6. Ear Mites *** Diagnosis: Treatment:
Combine exudate w/mineral oil on a slide, observe under microscope
Sometimes otoscopic exam will reveal moving debris & mites
Treatment:
Clean ears prior to topical medications
Topical ear medications
Ivermectin, milbemycin, others…
Selamectin applied transdermally
On microscope, mites and eggs can be seen on a smear of exudate
Selamectin: used for fleas and ear mites in dogs, cats and rabbits
Ivermectin is used off label either oral or SQ

7. EAR MITES Revolution (selamectin) Otomite Plus Milbemite (Milbemycin)
Milbemite: comes in a packet and you empty one container in each ear
Otomite: Kills mites without irritation

8. Ear Mites *** Client info:
Life cycle is 3 weeks -treat for full 30 days
Highly contagious, treat all animals in house
No human infection
Eggs hatch every 10 days so treatment needs to last 30 days
The parasite can live on other parts of the animals body, especially cats. If infestation continues, you will need to treat with shampoos or dips

9. Fleas
Ctenocephalides felis – The cat flea is the most commonly isolated flea from dogs and cats
Flea saliva highly antigenic=> flea bite allergic dermatitis
Clinical Signs
Scratching/biting skin
Alopecia
Dog – affects base of tail and caudal thighs initially, then generalizes
Cat- milliary dermatitis
Diagnosis: Visualize fleas or flea dirt
Feed on mammals and birds
Host for dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum)
Milliary dermatitis: red scabs over the entire dorsum
Flea dirt: flea stool filled with blood, put on a white paper with alcohol or water and you will see the red color come out
 antigenic: immune response triggered by the antigens

10. Flea Life Cycle ***
Adult female produces avg. of eggs/day (up to 50)
Egg production only after blood meal
Incubation period: days
Larval stage thrives best in humidity
After 2 molts, larvae pupates (spins a cocoon)
Pupal stage
Most resistant
Lasts days to months dependent on environmental factors
Lay eggs on animal after eating. They fall off into the environment days to develop. Warm environment, eggs hath sooner. Larval stage eat digested blood passed into the environment. Pupal stage will arise when levels of carbon dioxide rise (the host is near by).
Up to 2000 in their life time
Pupal stage: pre-adult
Bug bombs: kill larval and adult fleas, not pupal stage

11. Flea Life Cycle
Pupal stage: vacuum will help them come out of the pupa due to the heat, then you can kill the adult.
– 3 minutes

12. Flea allergy dermatitis

13. Flea allergy dermatitis
Most common area in dogs
Common presentation of flea allergy dermatitis in the dog -
Alopecia of the rump, base of tail, caudal thighs

14. Miliary Dermatitis
Most common area in cats, full dorsal area
Common presentation of flea allergy dermatitis in cats

15. Fleas Systemic (spot-ons, injectable, tablets)
Advantage (imidacloprid)- once a month spot-on; causes CNS paralysis and death of the flea
Sentinel: (Lufenuron)-oral in dogs; injectable in cats);
Interferes with production of chitin (hard shell)
Frontline (fipronil) - once a month spot-on; causes CNS paralysis or death
Revolution (Selamectin) – once a month spot-on; causes CNS paralysis and death; effective for heartworms, sarcoptes, ear mites, intestinal parasites in dogs and cats
Comfortis/Trifexis (spinosad) - once a month ORAL tablet; causes CNS paralysis and death
Bravecto (fluralaner) – 3 month oral tablet; CNS paralysis and death
Capstar (nitenpyram) – daily oral tablet: CNS paralysis and death
All of these act on the fleas life cycle in some way or repel the adult flea from the animal.
(sprays, dips, powders, and shampoos) – Topicals, orals or injectables
Dips: are more toxic than others
Chitin (hard shell): interferes with the fleas exoskeleton/ preventis the flea larva from being able to make chitin, which makes them unable to produce an exoskeleton and grow. Sentinel is not effective against adult fleas
Systemics: newest, they are absorbed and kill the flea when they feed or stop reproduction
Species specific

16. Fleas *** Client Info Treat environment and animal
Fleas spend most of time off host
All animals must be treated
Skin damage/dermatitis can occur
If one animal has fleas, they all do!
Treat with foggers or sprays, they can live in the environment for a very long time. They can live for up to 100 days without eating. The average life of a flea in 2-3 months.

17. Flea anemia: