One bite is all it takes!
Your pet is an easy target for common parasites like ticks, fleas and heartworm-carrying mosquitos. These insects feed on your pets, potentially infecting them with many dangerous diseases.
Fleas
These bloodsucking insects feed on mammals and lay eggs in their fur. Fleas can transmit harmful parasites like tapeworm and Murine typhus, as well as cause dermatitis and anemia. One flea can reproduce nearly 50 times a day, making a flea infestation a substantial threat to your pet’s wellbeing. Flea infestations often spread throughout your home as well, living in your carpet and furniture and making them tough to eradicate.
Ticks
Ticks are found lurking in shrubs and tall grass. They attach as your pet runs past, biting them and feeding on their blood. Although nearly microscopic, the tick represents can be one of the most dangerous parasites. A single tick bite can carry a host of potentially fatal diseases including Lyme disease, typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis anaplasmosis.
Although rare, animal-to-human transfer is possible, making the tick hazardous to you and your family. Special care should be made to inspect your pet, and yourself, after any woodland outdoor activities.
Heartworm
Heartworm-carrying mosquitos represent a potentially lethal danger to your pet. The mosquito’s bite transmits the heartworm larva to your animal, which then slowly develops and makes its way toward the heart. Once there, it multiplies within your pet’s pulmonary artery, leading to constricted blood flow, heart disease and major organ failure.
Parasite Prevention Plan
Regular application of flea, tick and heartworm preventive medication is a surefire way of keeping your pet free of nasty parasites. Consult with your Acton Animal Hospital veterinarian to determine the best parasite control products for your pet.
Acton Animal Hospital’s Parasite Prevention Plan includes:
- Pet examination and testing in our in-house lab
- Parasite-control product consultation with a Millis Animal Hospital veterinarian
- Access to state-of-the-art treatment
Have questions about parasite prevention and treatment for your pet? Call us and we’ll be happy to help!