Pet Parasite Prevention in Butler, PA
Preventative care is vital to your companion’s health, and pet parasite prevention is a key part of that care. Fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms may be tiny, but they can be a big nuisance and cause illness in pets as well as humans! Animal Clinic of Butler is dedicated to helping you protect your loved one from all kinds of threats, and in addition to recommending routine parasite screenings, we also offer a wide range of safe and effective parasite control medications.
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Why Does My Pet Need Routine Parasite Screenings?
Fleas, worms, and ticks and the diseases they can cause are hard to detect without a proper screening. Even if your pet is taking their monthly parasite preventatives, there is still a risk for infection, which is why we recommend an annual wellness exam and parasite screening to check for underlying problems. If your pet is harboring parasites or a parasitic disease, this will not only be harmful to them, but it could potentially harm other pets and even your human family members.
What Diseases Can Parasites Spread to Pets and People?
While not all parasites are carriers of disease, they all have the potential to be. Below are some of the conditions fleas, ticks, and worms can cause in pets and in some cases, humans.
Fleas
- Flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction in dogs)
- Tapeworm
- Bartonellosis
Ticks
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichiosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Worms
- Anemia
- Heartworm disease (heartworms)
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
If you are concerned your pet has been infected by parasites, schedule an appointment today.
How Do Pets Get Infected with Parasites?
There are several ways dogs and cats can become infected with parasites. Fleas can jump large distances to get from one host to another, so if your pet happens to be near a dog or cat infested with fleas, they’re likely to end up with fleas as well. Fleas can be found outdoors, in tall grasses or brush, but they also tend to burrow into woodgrain and fabric fibers.
Ticks are a high risk in thickly wooded areas, but they can also be found in your backyard. Simply brushing past a tick is all it takes for the parasite to attach to your pet (or your clothing!).
Intestinal worms are commonly spread via contact with the feces of an infected dog or cat. The eggs or larvae of the roundworms, hookworms, or tapeworms may accidentally be ingested, and in the process thrive inside your pet’s intestinal tract if they aren’t detected and treated.
Heartworms are one of the bigger parasite threats for dogs and cats. Heartworm larvae are spread by mosquitoes, and once the larvae enter your pet’s bloodstream, this sets the heartworm lifecycle in motion. If your pet is not taking a heartworm preventative as directed by their vet, the heartworm larvae will mature and propagate in the major arteries around your pet’s heart and lungs. In time, the heartworms will begin to block the arteries and potentially cause heart failure in your pet.
Parasite Preventatives are Easy and Effective
The best way to minimize your pet’s risk for fleas, ticks, and worms/heartworms is to give them the appropriate preventatives when directed and continue to have your pet checked for parasites on an annual basis. Animal Clinic of Butler carries preventatives for dogs and cats of all sizes, and we would be happy to answer any questions you have about them. Call us today for more information or to schedule an appointment!