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Parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms are not to be taken lightly. Infections like Lyme disease can be easily transmitted, heartworms can cause internal organ damage, and in extreme cases death may result.
Fortunately, proper use of veterinary medicine can prevent your pet from ever having these diseases and repercussions, and it is up to you as their owner to help protect them. Fleas live on a host, often dogs and cats, stray animals or wild rabbits and can survive on these hosts year round. These hosts then drop flea eggs wherever they go like a little walking salt shaker! Your pet travels through these areas making them the unsuspecting target for fleas which is why we recommend using flea prevention for a large portion of the year. |
Merial, the manufacturer of Frontline, has also recognized the demand for an oral medication and have created a new chewable product called NexGard. NexGard is a tasty beef flavored treat that is designed to kill BOTH fleas and four types of ticks. It kills fleas before they can lay eggs, thus preventing infestations. Both of these products fight fleas and ticks for 30 days after they are administered.
Along with fleas, mosquitoes are another danger to our pets this time of year. Mosquitoes transmit heartworm disease by injecting microscopic worms into the body which mature between the right side of the heart and the lungs. Over time, the heartworm causes heart disease and failure. To read more about heartworm disease and the associated risks, please visit http://www.heartwormsociety.org.
Before starting any heartworm prevention, a simple blood test is required to be certain that the dog is not heartworm positive. Administering heartworm prevention when your dog has heartworms can cause life threatening side effects. Once we confirm this negative diagnosis, we start a once monthly heartworm preventative called Heartgard Plus. Not only does Heartgard Plus prevent heartworm disease, but it is also an intestinal parasite dewormer as well. As always, if you have questions please feel free to call the clinic at 319.334.6021
Along with fleas, mosquitoes are another danger to our pets this time of year. Mosquitoes transmit heartworm disease by injecting microscopic worms into the body which mature between the right side of the heart and the lungs. Over time, the heartworm causes heart disease and failure. To read more about heartworm disease and the associated risks, please visit http://www.heartwormsociety.org.
Before starting any heartworm prevention, a simple blood test is required to be certain that the dog is not heartworm positive. Administering heartworm prevention when your dog has heartworms can cause life threatening side effects. Once we confirm this negative diagnosis, we start a once monthly heartworm preventative called Heartgard Plus. Not only does Heartgard Plus prevent heartworm disease, but it is also an intestinal parasite dewormer as well. As always, if you have questions please feel free to call the clinic at 319.334.6021
