So, remember when you think of fleas and ticks that they are much more than just a cause of an itch! ” These pesky parasites are dangerous to your pet’s health and can cause serious illness, like skin infections and internal parasites. Our priority at All Creatures Veterinary Center is to assess your pet’s individual living situation to determine the perfect and most appropriate type of defensive care for them.
Understanding the Risks: More Than Just a Nuisance
But when these pets bite, it’s not just to feed; they might be transmitting dangerous diseases and provoking painful physical reactions.
The Dangers of Fleas
- Skin Irritation: Lots of dogs and cats develop flea allergy dermatitis. This happens when a pet is allergic to flea saliva – Not only do pets itch like crazy, but they also lose hair and end up with sore, painful, inflamed patches.
- Internal Parasites: Tapeworms are mostly spread through fleas. Should your pet eat a flea (while grooming), the tapeworm eggs that a flea carries can transform into an infestation in your dog or cat’s digestive system.
- Anemia Concerns: In little puppies, kittens, and elderly pets, a significant flea infestation can suck enough blood to cause anemia. If you see that your pet looks tired, is sleeping all day long, or is breathing really hard, it’s a medical emergency.
The Threats from Ticks
Ticks are known for the bacteria they host within their bodies, and can cause a cluster of diseases:
- Lyme Disease: This one could show as a sudden energy drop, appetite loss, or intense joint pain.
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Can be very serious and accompanied by vomiting, skin lesions, and even neurological problems.
- General Infections (Zoonosis): Ticks can also be infected with bacteria, which can cause high fever, ocular discharge, and GI signs.
Your Toolkit for Prevention
We provide a number of different options to protect your pet, and our staff at All Creatures Veterinary Center can help you decide which one is suitable for you.
- Flea Collars: They are used for all-season protection. They are comfortable to wear around the neck and are designed to die when a pest makes contact with your pet.
- Oral Tablets: Typically chewable and once a month based. It’s not dirty’ is a solution that parasite dies when biting the pet, so the infestation does not spread.
- Spot-On Treatments: Ones that are applied onto the skin, typically between the shoulders. These are awesome because they instantly kill parasites (oftentimes before they get the chance to bite).
- Sprays: These work great if you are seeing fleas on your pet now and want immediate results. They act quickly and provide protection for up to 1 month.
Personalized Support at All Creatures Veterinary Center
Dealing with a parasite issue is easier when you have experts to guide you. We don’t just give the drug; we give a plan.
If you want a parasite prevention treatment from biting at all, we usually recommend either topical treatments or collars. If you’re looking for a fast, easy-to-use option that won’t ruin your furniture, oral tablets could be the answer. We also offer consultations for folks who are currently facing an active infestation in their homes and can direct you on specific sprays and environmental cleaning to get the cycle broken once and for all.
It’s a year-round job to keep your pets safe. Contact us at (661) 291-1124 to talk about prevention and other wellness options or to make your pet’s next appointment.
