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Flea & Tick Medications
Flea & Tick Prevention: A Word From Our Veterinarians
Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance for pet owners; they are a health risk for pets. Flea and tick infestations are two of the most common issues that pet owners deal with, and they can lead to a variety of diseases and health issues for your pet. They can be treated using a variety of products, the most common of which are oral and topical treatments. Understanding the life cycles of fleas and ticks, how they can effect your pet, and the types of flea and tick prevention available, will allow you to provide your pet with the best protection possible. (Keep Reading)
Did you know that the adult fleas you see on your pet only represent 5% of the total flea population? A common misconception among pet owners is that if fleas can't be seen on their pet, they don't have a flea problem. In reality, flea eggs and larvae often go undetected by pet owners. Female fleas can lay as many as 40 eggs per day, (or a total of 2,000 eggs in her lifetime), on an untreated pet. Upon reaching adulthood, these fleas can live on your pet for up to three months. The tick life cycle is similar to that of the flea life cycle; however, female ticks can lay anywhere from 4,000 to 6,500 eggs at a time. Additionally, ticks may take as many as one to two years to complete their full life cycle.
Flea and tick infestations can lead to a variety of health issues and diseases for your pet. The most common symptoms of a flea or tick infestation are scratching, biting, and gnawing at the skin. An untreated flea problem can lead to flea allergy dermatitis, skin infections, hot spots, or anemia. Additionally, your pet may develop tapeworms if fleas are ingested. Ticks, on the other hand, can cause serious diseases such as ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Lyme Disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These diseases may cause symptoms such as lack of energy, decreased appetite, swollen joints, or fever, among others.
Fortunately, many types of flea and tick prevention are available. Topical medications such as fipronil and methoprene (Frontline Plus®), and fipronil with methoprene and amitraz (Certifect®), are proven effective and highly recommended by veterinarians. Oral medications are also used to help control fleas and ticks such as selamectin (Revolution®). One of the most important steps in prevention is consistent reapplication. Reapplying every month, year-round is necessary to keep parasites off of your pet. Many pet owners make the mistake of only using flea and tick prevention when parasites are visibly present. Doing so allows these parasites to build up a tolerance to preventative products, making it extremely hard to get rid of them in the future. Regularly applying flea and tick prevention not only allows pets and their owners to maintain a comfortable living environment; it keeps pets healthy and safe from a variety of diseases and health issues.
Untreated flea and tick infestations can lead to many types of health problems and diseases, not to mention that these parasites are a nuisance to pets and their owners. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to keep your pet healthy and parasite free. The best way to do so is by regularly administering flea and tick prevention to your pet. Do your pet a favor and start a flea and tick prevention plan today! (Close This Article)
Flea and tick infestations can lead to a variety of health issues and diseases for your pet. The most common symptoms of a flea or tick infestation are scratching, biting, and gnawing at the skin. An untreated flea problem can lead to flea allergy dermatitis, skin infections, hot spots, or anemia. Additionally, your pet may develop tapeworms if fleas are ingested. Ticks, on the other hand, can cause serious diseases such as ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Lyme Disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These diseases may cause symptoms such as lack of energy, decreased appetite, swollen joints, or fever, among others.
Fortunately, many types of flea and tick prevention are available. Topical medications such as fipronil and methoprene (Frontline Plus®), and fipronil with methoprene and amitraz (Certifect®), are proven effective and highly recommended by veterinarians. Oral medications are also used to help control fleas and ticks such as selamectin (Revolution®). One of the most important steps in prevention is consistent reapplication. Reapplying every month, year-round is necessary to keep parasites off of your pet. Many pet owners make the mistake of only using flea and tick prevention when parasites are visibly present. Doing so allows these parasites to build up a tolerance to preventative products, making it extremely hard to get rid of them in the future. Regularly applying flea and tick prevention not only allows pets and their owners to maintain a comfortable living environment; it keeps pets healthy and safe from a variety of diseases and health issues.
Untreated flea and tick infestations can lead to many types of health problems and diseases, not to mention that these parasites are a nuisance to pets and their owners. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to keep your pet healthy and parasite free. The best way to do so is by regularly administering flea and tick prevention to your pet. Do your pet a favor and start a flea and tick prevention plan today! (Close This Article)
Heartworm Medications
Heartworm Prevention: A Word From Our Veterinarians
Do you keep your pet on heartworm prevention? If not, you could be putting your pet at risk. Heartworm disease is a dangerous and potentially fatal condition that is transmitted by mosquitoes. This condition is most often found in dogs, however, it can be found in cats as well. If left untreated, heartworm disease is a life-threatening condition. Fortunately, heartworm disease is highly preventable using heartworm prevention. These preventatives are highly effective and easy to administer. In order to truly protect your pet from heartworms, however, you must first understand the cause and symptoms of heartworm disease, treatment of heartworm disease, and how heartworm preventatives work to keep your pet safe. (Keep Reading)
Many pet owners do not realize that mosquitoes are the carriers of heartworms. Heartworm infection occurs when a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae bites your pet. Microscopic larvae enter the body through the bite wound and travel through the bloodstream, eventually migrating to the heart and the blood vessels that connect the heart and lungs. Heartworms can live for five to seven years and can grow to be 10 to 12 inches in length. Once sexually mature, heartworms begin to produce, causing the population of heartworms in the infected pet to continually increase. Unfortunately, symptoms of heartworm disease may not be evident at first. Pets may be infected for many years without any indication that the disease has developed. Eventually, however, heartworms begin to damage the pulmonary arteries of the lungs, causing a variety of symptoms. Indicators of heartworm disease may include coughing, difficulty breathing after moderate activity, lethargy, decreased appetite, weight loss, and rapid heart rate. If left untreated, heartworm disease will worsen and cause serious illness.
Blood tests are available through your veterinarian to test for heartworm infections. Most veterinarians recommend annual testing to detect any heartworms that are present. Treatments are available for dogs that test positive for heartworm infections; however, there is no effective treatment for cats. Treatment for dogs may lead to more serious illness, and further damage may be done to the lungs and pulmonary arteries as these parasites are killed. Overall, even when treatment is an option, it is dangerous and much more expensive than keeping your pet on heartworm prevention.
Heartworm disease is completely preventable by using an approved heartworm medication, such as ivermectin (Heartgard Plus®), milbemycin oxime (Interceptor®), and milbemycin oxime with lufenuron (Sentinel®). These medications kill heartworm larvae before the disease can progress. Heartworm prevention is extremely effective when given correctly and on a regular basis. To be most effective, preventatives must be given around the same time each month, year-round. These medications are safe, relatively inexpensive, and come in an easy to administer tablet or chewable. Many of these preventatives even protect against additional parasites.
Keeping your pet on monthly heartworm prevention year-round is important for dogs and cats in all geographical areas, whether indoors or outdoors. To get your pet started on monthly heartworm prevention, visit your local veterinarian and have your pet tested for heartworms. Giving heartworm medication to an already heartworm-positive pet can lead to complications; therefore, a heartworm test is required prior to starting a preventive regimen. As a pet owner, you are responsible for keeping your pet safe and healthy, heartworm prevention is one of the easiest and most important ways to do so. (Close This Article)
Blood tests are available through your veterinarian to test for heartworm infections. Most veterinarians recommend annual testing to detect any heartworms that are present. Treatments are available for dogs that test positive for heartworm infections; however, there is no effective treatment for cats. Treatment for dogs may lead to more serious illness, and further damage may be done to the lungs and pulmonary arteries as these parasites are killed. Overall, even when treatment is an option, it is dangerous and much more expensive than keeping your pet on heartworm prevention.
Heartworm disease is completely preventable by using an approved heartworm medication, such as ivermectin (Heartgard Plus®), milbemycin oxime (Interceptor®), and milbemycin oxime with lufenuron (Sentinel®). These medications kill heartworm larvae before the disease can progress. Heartworm prevention is extremely effective when given correctly and on a regular basis. To be most effective, preventatives must be given around the same time each month, year-round. These medications are safe, relatively inexpensive, and come in an easy to administer tablet or chewable. Many of these preventatives even protect against additional parasites.
Keeping your pet on monthly heartworm prevention year-round is important for dogs and cats in all geographical areas, whether indoors or outdoors. To get your pet started on monthly heartworm prevention, visit your local veterinarian and have your pet tested for heartworms. Giving heartworm medication to an already heartworm-positive pet can lead to complications; therefore, a heartworm test is required prior to starting a preventive regimen. As a pet owner, you are responsible for keeping your pet safe and healthy, heartworm prevention is one of the easiest and most important ways to do so. (Close This Article)
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