Your pet can pick up intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, just by sniffing the ground, by contact with feces, or they can be passed through the mother’s placenta to her offspring. Some of these intestinal parasites can then be passed on to humans. For dogs, most monthly heartworm preventatives will keep these intestinal parasites at bay as well. For cats, most monthly flea/tick preventatives will also have intestinal parasite protection. Ask us what the best protection for your pet would be.

Another internal parasite is the heartworm, which is transmitted by infected mosquitos. This worm sets up and multiplies in the heart and pulmonary arteries, mainly in dogs. If your pet gets infected with heartworms, it can be fatal if it is not treated.  Unfortunately, the treatment is difficult, lengthy, and expensive.  So, it is best to keep your pet on a heartworm preventative all year round, which is simple and much more cost-effective. Testing them yearly will guarantee that nothing has slipped in.

External parasites, such as fleas and ticks, can transmit deadly diseases to our pets.  These parasites become active whenever the outside temperature is above 32 degrees. Fleas can withstand freezing conditions in their cocoon for up to one year. They cause itching, anemia (blood loss), they can infect your pet with tapeworms, and can transmit diseases like cat scratch fever, and plague.  Ticks are everywhere outdoors, and they carry serious diseases like Lyme and Anaplasmosis. We recommend giving your pet preventative products regularly to prevent flea and tick infestations, both on your pet and within your home.