Texan Creepy-Crawlies That Are Dangerous To Dogs

The Lone Star State is a beautiful place to live. A wide array of native wildlife shares this beautiful land with us. Some are cute and harmless. Others? Not so much. Here, a Castle Hills, TX veterinarian lists some that do not play nice with Man’s Best Friend.

Kissing Bug

The Kissing Bug might sound harmless. However, it’s anything but. The Kissing Bug, or Triatomine bug, as it’s also called, is a known carrier of Chagas disease, which can affect both humans and dogs. To make matters worse, Texas is home to a whopping seven types of kissing bugs.

Snakes

Texas is home to several poisonous snakes, including rattlesnakes, water moccasins, copperheads, and coral snakes. Dogs are particularly at risk here, because they have a tendency to sniff around things like logs and wood piles, where these may be hiding. Snakes often hide in debris piles or holes under sheds, so don’t let these accumulate on your property. If you live in a snake-infested area and/or are often out in the Great Outdoors, Fido may benefit from the rattlesnake vaccine.

Spiders

Most of our spiders are harmless, and many are actually quite beneficial. But, as the saying says, there’s a few bad apples in any crowd. The black widow and brown recluse are both venomous spiders that can do quite a bit of damage, despite their small size. These guys like to lurk in places like attics, sheds, and garages, but aren’t above moving into Fido’s doghouse.

Fleas And Ticks

If Fido was able to name one archenemy —aside from the vacuum cleaner— it may very well be the flea. Fleas may not seem as dangerous as the rest of the critters on this list, but they can carry dangerous diseases. They can also transmit other parasites. As for ticks, they can carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, and Hepatozoonosis. Protect your canine buddy from all of these ‘osis’ issues and other hazards by keeping up with his parasite control.

Mosquitos

Last but not least, we have everyone’s favorite … the mosquito. Mosquitos can also transmit diseases and parasites, particularly heartworm, which can be deadly to dogs. Keep up with Fido’s preventative care!

Please contact us, your Castle Hills, TX veterinary clinic, for more information on protecting your pet from these dangerous critters. We’re here to help!