Parasite Prevention Planning

Parasite Prevention is recommended year-round, which helps protect against:

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Heartworm

Heartworm disease is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasitic worm that lives in the bloodstream and infests the heart and lungs. Dogs become infected with heartworms through the bite of an infected mosquito. The treatment for heartworm disease can have life-threatening complications, so we recommend that all dogs be on a heartworm preventative. Our area's climate enables mosquitoes to survive outdoors for most of the year, but they can also easily get indoors. Therefore, we recommend that all dogs be on a heartworm preventative year-round, starting at 8 weeks of age. Heartworm testing is recommended on all dogs at 8 months of age and then annually thereafter.

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Intestinal Parasites

There are several intestinal parasites that can infest your pet and may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Most of these parasites are zoonotic, meaning they are contagious to humans and other animals. Dogs usually come into contact with the parasites in the environment, but some can also be transmitted to puppies from their mother. To detect these parasites, we ask that you bring in a stool sample for a fecal centrifugation test. By performing this test regularly, we can detect early stages of the parasites and treat them before an infestation occurs, which can help prevent your other pets or family members from contracting them.

 

Fleas

Fleas can parasitize many mammals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, opossums, and raccoons. The nature of the flea life cycle puts all dogs at risk for potential exposure. Fleas mate on a parasitized animal and drop eggs in the environment (inside the house, under the deck, in the yard, etc.). Flea eggs are sticky, so if we or our animals tread through these areas, it is very easy to bring flea eggs into the house. Fleas multiply rapidly and can carry dangerous bacteria that can make dogs or humans sick.

 

Ticks

Ticks are common in areas that are wooded, have a water source, or have tall grasses. Preventatives are important if your dog is at risk of tick exposure, since there are several diseases that can be transmitted by ticks. Your dog’s risk can be discussed with your veterinarian. We recommend using one of our oral preventatives for tick prevention due to the rapid speed at which it kills ticks.