Parasite Prevention and Testing
There are many common dog and cat parasites that can pose a threat to your pets year-round!
- Fleas "They bite animals and people alike! They can lead to anemia, dermatitis and tapeworm infections
- Roundworms - Common symptoms: diarrhea, anemia, dehydration, weight loss
- Hookworms - Attach to the intestinal lining, creating bleeding internal wounds
- Whipworms - An intestinal parasite whose eggs can survive for years in the soil, re-infecting your pet even after successful treatment!
- Heartworms - Live in the heart and lungs and can be life-threatening!
- Ear Mites - Mites live in an infected cat’s ears, feeding off the ear lining, causing intense scratching and/or head shaking
We recommend annual fecal testing (to check for intestinal worms) for all our dog and cat patients, as well as annual heartworm tests for dogs. We also recommend year-round parasite protection for all patients. Even indoor cats should be treated because the outdoors can get tracked indoors on our clothes and shoes, and by our dogs and other pets. Parasite prevention is easy with once-a-month chewable tablets and/or topical treatments. If your pet is not already on a prevention program, ask us how to get started today!