By Ian Holmes

Lantzville area dog saved after fleas suck nearly all of its blood

Aug 1, 2017 | 4:36 PM

NANAIMO — Criminal animal cruelty charges are possible after bloodsucking fleas nearly killed a Lantzville area dog.

BC SPCA special constable Tina Heary told NanaimoNewsNOW a terrier named Rascal was relinquished into Nanaimo SPCA control and then rushed to a local vet following a public complaint last week.

“Fleas feed on their host by sucking their blood,” Heary said. “Rascal lost approximately 85 per cent of his blood from this huge flea infestation.”

Heary said Rascal was given swift life-saving treatment during which thousands of fleas fell off the beleaguered dog. She said Rascal was given fluids and blood donated from a vet assistant’s dog.

Sadly some pet owners wrongly assume fleas on pets are completely normal and a minor irritant, she said.

time served

Nanaimo man caught with over 30g of illicit drugs avoids additional jail time

9h ago

big return

Senior women's box lacrosse returns to Nanaimo after 10+ year absence

9h ago

environmental impacts

Accidental pump activation causes minor oil slick in Nanaimo marina

11h ago

“That’s definitely not the case,” Heary said, minutes after checking up on Rascal. “We don’t want animals to suffer from these parasites, it can have fatal consequences and near-fatal consequences like in Rascal’s situation.”

Heary said animal cruelty charges could be pursued since neglect and lack of care could have been factors in this case. She wouldn’t release any information about the dog’s owners nor the property it lived on to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Heary said only about 5 per cent of parasites like flees live on an animal.

“Whereas the rest are (acquired from) the environment, there can be the eggs and larvae that are in the dog’s or cat’s bedding, places that they hangout in the house,” Heary said. “It’s really important to keep those places clean.”

Heary said there are a range of cheap preventative and post flea treatments available for dogs, cats and livestock.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes