
Pets and Parasites
What Do They Need?
My dogs, who live on a country property, receive parasite prevention monthly year round. I have clients who have one small dog that uses an indoor pee pad and when outdoors is carried in a purse. This dog may require no parasite prevention. The risks vary and we are here to help determine the best prevention/treatment program for your pet.
It is March, the expected start of tick season in our area. Flea and Heartworm seasons are just around the corner. Every year there are more products to help protect your pet from these parasites. The conversation to determine what your pet needs is becoming an information overload consultation. Our goal is to educate all our clients about these parasites, determine the risk to their pet and then chose the best suited product or combination of products to provide the determined treatment and prevention. We look forward to having this discussion with you.
For those of you who would like to prepare for the discussion:
Season-March-December, and any day with a temperature above 0°C
Lifestyle Risks-being outdoors, we expect pets who exercise on trails and in the country to be at higher risk but ticks can also be in urban yards and parks
Health risk-ticks transmit Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichia
https://nwvethospital.com/pet-health-resources/pet-health-articles/articles/?rid=725
Fleas
Season-June to Heavy frost, this can be December or January
Lifestyle risks-any pet that goes outside or is exposed to a pet that goes outside (indoor cats that live with a dog)
Health Risk-discomfort to the pet, severe discomfort if they have allergy to flea bites but the greatest concern is a house infestation that can take months to eliminate
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=7955321
Heartworm
Season-June to November
Lifestyle Risks-any pet exposed to mosquitoes
Health Risk-worms live in the lungs and heart causing respiratory and heart disease
https://nwvethospital.com/pet-health-resources/pet-health-articles/articles/?rid=773
Intestinal parasites
Season-year round
Lifestyle Risks-exposure to other pets or wildlife that have parasites, eating small rodents, eating other animals feces
The new concern is the fox tapeworm
Health Risk-some of these parasites are transmissible to humans, eliminating them from pets protects people
https://nwvethospital.com/pet-health-resources/pet-health-articles/articles/?rid=822