Count on Monthly Parasite Preventives to Keep Your Pets Healthy
April 26, 2020
As veterinarians, we hate to think that your four-legged friend gets forgotten, but we know it happens and we understand. You’re busy (heck, we’re busy, too!). You’ve got work, the kids, the yard, the house; it’s easy to forget the monthly preventives for your pet.
- Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm that is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. After your pet receives his annual heartworm test with negative results, he should be started (or continue) his monthly heartworm treatment. We recommend monthly Heartgard Plus, bi-annual ProHeart6 or monthly Revolution for the prevention of heartworm disease. Treating the disease caused by heartworm is expensive when compared to the preventive. More importantly, you don’t want your pet to be ill and the course of therapy can be unpleasant for your dog. In cats, there is no therapy – only prevention.
- Fleas & ticks are more than a nuisance. Ticks can transmit several diseases to your pet. Fleas make your pet itch, possibly causing flea allergies, not to mention give your dog tapeworms. Additionally, who wants fleas in their house? Although you may check your pet daily for unwanted hitchhikers, your best bet to keep your pet flea and tick free is to use one of several products that we recommend such as Frontline Plus, Activyl Tick Plus, or Bravecto (an oral product that lasts for 12 weeks).
- Internal parasites can make your pet feel under the weather with diarrhea, lethargy, poor appetite and an extended belly. Heavy internal parasite loads can even cause anemia. Additionally, there is a human health concern with internal parasites as some of them can infect you and your children. We recommend a series of dewormings for all puppies followed by annual fecal screenings in addition to year-round Heartgard Plus. Clients with smartphones can download free apps to remind them to administer Heartgard and Frontline to their pets. The Heartgard Dose Reminder and Frontline Dose Reminder work well for our busy, on-the-go clients or for those just needing a helpful reminder.