The ‘Phlebotomus’ - potential danger for your dog

UPDATE

NEW ON THE MARKET, (2012) THERE IS NOW A VACCINE TO PROTECT YOUR DOG FROM LEISHMANIASIS. A COURSE OF THREE INJECTIONS, THE VACCINE BECOMES EFFECTIVE FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE FINAL ONE,

Phlebotomus actually comes from the Greek phleps, phlebos meaning ‘vein’ referring to the blood sucking habit of sand flies

The ‘Phlebotomus’ or ‘sandfly’ is a small, hairy species of mosquito, straw coloured or brown, whose buzz is hardly noticeable but whose ‘bite’ can be fatal to dogs. This unpleasant little beastie can carry and transmit leishmaniasis, (pronounced leash man eye a sis), a disease first recorded in the Pyrénées-Orientales in 1920 and which as yet has no vaccination.

There is however preventative medication available and it is important to to protect your dog against this from March to October in the P-O.

These villains are rarely seen during the day. Their favourite habitat is gardens, parks and woodland or any humid place. In fact, the name ‘sand fly’ is misleading as you will not find them on the beach!

As with the common mosquito, only the female bites. When she does so, parasites are deposited on the skin. A tiny skin lesion - called a chancre - appears at the site of the bite, usually in the muzzle or the ear. The parasite then invades the dog’s cells, spreads into the internal organs and can begin to damage the immune system.

Any dog can catch Leishmaniasis, although there is some evidence to indicate that larger dogs are more susceptible.

Protect your dog...
Warning signs
Symptoms can be quite vague initially, and the disease can really only be detected by a blood test.
Some vets recommend a once or twice yearly blood test to ensure that your dog is not infected.

Eventual symptoms may include loss of hair around the eyes and nose, unusually fast nail growth, weight loss despite, continued good appetite, unexplained scabs on the body, dandruff, bald patches on the skin, conjunctivitis...

Prevention
✌ Use Scalibor collars with deltamethrin from March to November. Ordinary flea/tick collars do not provide protection.
✌ Use anti-repellent soap to bath dog from May to Nov.
✌ Don’t walk your dog in rural or wooded areas after twilight
✌ Keep well informed about the disease in order to give your dog the best protection you can. There may well be a vaccine available by the time you read this!