Parasite Prevention

Those Pesky Fleas

Fleas are more than just an annoying pest—they can lead to a variety of health issues for your dog or cat. Although the same type of flea can live on both pets, they can cause anemia, especially in young or weakened dogs. Fleas also carry diseases like Parasitic Dermatitis, Cat Scratch Disease (which can affect humans), Typhus, and more. Plus, they can transmit common tapeworms to your pets.

Effective flea control involves two key steps —
Getting rid of fleas on your pet: There are many options available, including shampoos, sprays, powders, and spot-on treatments. It’s important to talk to your vet to choose the safest and most effective product for your pet.

Controlling fleas in your home: While today’s products are quite advanced, most only target adult fleas. Your vet can recommend products with Insect Growth Regulators to help eliminate flea eggs and larvae. We suggest vacuuming your carpets before applying any environmental treatments, as this encourages fleas to leave their cocoons. Don’t forget to throw away the vacuum bag afterward!

Get Ahead of the Infection

When they bite, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm infection. And those heartworms can wreak havoc on your dog or cat. These parasites can severely and sometimes fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Some pets may not show any signs of infection; in those that do, symptoms can vary widely.

In dogs, signs of heartworm disease can range from coughing, fatigue, and weight loss to difficulty breathing and a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid accumulation from heart failure). Canine heartworm infection can also lead to a life-threatening complication called “caval syndrome” (a form of liver failure); without prompt surgical intervention, this condition usually causes death.

Although often thought to not be susceptible to heartworm infection, cats can indeed get heartworms. Cats can suffer from a syndrome referred to as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD); the symptoms can be subtle and may mimic those of asthma or allergic bronchitis. Signs of respiratory distress, such as rapid or difficult breathing, wheezing, and panting, are common. Other symptoms include coughing, vomiting (typically unrelated to eating), and loss of appetite or weight.

Heartworm infection is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs. Treatment for heartworm infection in dogs is far more expensive than prevention, and there is no approved treatment for cats. Schedule an appointment with us today to stay ahead of any infection!

And Of Course, Ticks!

Ticks are becoming more common across the country, showing up in places where people and pets didn’t usually encounter them before. These parasites are more than just annoying—they can spread serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. If your pet starts coughing, has joint pain, breathing difficulties, fever, or shows signs of weakness, loss of appetite, weight, energy, or coordination, reach out to us right away.

The best way to keep ticks off your pet is by using a tick preventive. Even pets that stay indoors are at risk since ticks can easily get inside on your clothes or shoes. Tick preventives are safe and work great at keeping ticks and the diseases they carry away.

Give us a call today to get your pet protected!