Heartworm, Flea, and Tick Prevention
Preventive care is so important for the health of your pet. Dogs can get heartworms, which can easily cause heart and lung failure. All it takes is one full-grown adult worm, which can be almost a foot long, to really cause some damage. Ticks and fleas can also cause a lot of trouble for cats and dogs. Ticks spread diseases such as Lyme disease and others. Fleas can cause intense itching and even anemia from blood loss.
Lucky for you and your pets, there is a way to help. Most veterinary clinics offer a heartworm preventative that is given once a month to prevent heartworm infection. There is an added bonus. These medications also help to kill any intestinal parasites that your pet may have picked up!
There are a lot of products on the market for fleas and ticks. There are several forms of liquid that you apply to your pet’s skin. These are usually applied once a month and can be given at the same time as the heartworm prevention. There are also chewable tablets that work to prevent fleas and ticks. Some can be given once a month while others may last a little longer. Flea collars from the pet store generally don’t work very well, but your veterinarian will be able to give you guidance on the best choice for you and your pet.
Heartworms, fleas, and ticks can be great trouble for our beloved animals and ourselves. However, we are lucky because there are so many great products available to help protect everyone!