Fleas, ticks, heartworm, and other parasites can affect your pet no matter their lifestyle. That is why we strongly recommend providing your pet with appropriate prevention to protect their health and prevent serious illness or disease from affecting your companion. Day Heights Veterinary Clinic performs annual testing and provides preventatives to keep parasites from negatively affecting your pet’s well-being.
Is your pet on a monthly preventative program? Contact Day Heights Veterinary Clinic to make an appointment today!
Why Is Parasite Prevention So Important?
Parasites can transmit various diseases to your pet, which can have harsh effects on their health and potentially be passed to your human family as well. If your pet is infected with parasites, it may not be easy discern after the initial infection, as symptoms are not always visible. We recommend pets in Clermont County be tested at least twice a year to ensure their good health. Administering monthly preventive medication is another way to protect your pet and your family’s health. Rest assured, our animal hospital can provide the most effective parasite treatment and prevention.
Intestinal Parasites
Pets are infected with the eggs of intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and giardia, which are common to the Milford, OH area. Their eggs can be brought into your home on shoes or clothing. If left untreated, intestinal parasites can be fatal to pets and dangerous to humans as well.
External Parasites
Fleas and ticks are the most common external parasites we see affecting dogs and cats. These parasites can be found in outdoor environments including yards, patios, dog parks or on walks, or brought into your home by mistake. If your pet experiences itching, hair loss, allergies, anemia, or a skin infection, they may be affected by fleas and ticks. They also transmit diseases such as Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease, making regular prevention necessary.
Heartworms
Heartworms are a parasitic roundworm that may not cause any symptoms in your pet upon initial infection. Both dogs and cats are at risk of being infected by mosquitos, which commonly carry and transmit heartworm disease. As this disease persists, the following symptoms may appear:
- Mild cough
- Reluctance to exercise
- Fatigue after moderate activity
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Coughing
- Asthma attacks
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
Heartworm disease can be diagnosed through blood testing, though if there aren’t enough heartworms present, more testing may be needed to verify a diagnosis. We recommend keeping windows and doors securely shut and limiting stagnant water around your property to ward off mosquitos. Despite heartworms being unable to survive in humans, this parasite can wreak serious havoc on your pet’s health. Prevention is the best way to protect your pet against heartworm disease and any kind of parasite infection.
