Parasite Prevention 101

Parasite prevention is a key component of proper pet care, and it’s only getting more crucial. We cannot underline the importance of keeping your pet on a healthy preventative care routine. Simply providing Fido and Fluffy with parasite prevention products can protect them against a plethora of nasty and harmful parasites. Unfortunately, with climate change, many parasites are becoming more common. Some are remaining active for extended periods of time, while others are venturing into formerly hostile locations. In this blog, a local Orlando, FL veterinarian discusses several crucial parasite control strategies.

How Can I Keep Parasites Away From My Pet?

Following proper hygiene measures will go a long way in this case. The big thing is to keep up on your pet’s parasite control.  Much of this involves basic common sense measures and cleaning processes.

• Wash your hands after handling your pet’s belongings, cleaning up spills, or dealing with Fluffy’s litter box. (Ideally, you should wash your hands after petting your canine companion, but this is easy to ignore or forget.
• Got a kitty? Fluffy’s litterbox should be scooped everyday and changed on a regular basis.
• Regular vacuuming is also vital, especially for flea prevention. In general, we recommend vacuuming high-traffic areas on a regular basis and then cleaning them thoroughly once per week. You might want to acquire a robot vacuum, but we don’t recommend running it when no one is home. Wash your pet’s bedding and toys on a regular basis. If feasible, use a hot cycle with unscented detergent. However, you should examine the label.
• Do not feed your pet raw meat.

You can also take action around your property. Keeping your yard mowed and clearing trash, such as fallen branches, will help deter fleas and ticks, which prefer tall grass and nooks and crannies to hide.

What Are The Most Common Parasites That Infect Pets?

This is certainly not surprising: fleas and ticks are at the top of the list, followed by some rather nasty worms.

Fleas

This little, vile bug is a member of the Siphonaptera family, which is essentially a group of blood-sucking, flightless jerks.

Some not-so-fun flea facts:

• They can jump 150 times their height.
• They lack teeth and essentially have needles for a mouth.
• They are particularly active during warm weather. If you live in the north, you’ll receive some relief in the winter. Warmer locations must cope all year. Fleas can survive in cooler climates by seeking a warm host.
• Fleas are drawn to a variety of things, including movement, body heat, and vibration. They even detect CO2 levels. However, smells do not entice them.
• Fleas may live in any climate or circumstance.
• Flea infestations often take three months to remove. This is due to the life cycle. One reason this is problematic is that fleas frequently get into carpets. They lay eggs on pets, but the eggs frequently wind up on carpets.
• One female flea can lay 2000 eggs in just three months. It’s easy to understand how infestations might get out of control.
• Severe infestations can cause anemia in smaller animals.

Fleas are much more hazardous than you would imagine. They can transmit diseases such as the plague, typhus, and cat scratch fever, as well as other parasites like tapeworm.

Ticks

Unfortunately, tick populations have increased in recent years. We have a few not-so-fun facts about them:

• Ticks are commonly referred to as insects, however they are arachnids, just as spiders and scorpions.
• They frequently hibernate throughout the winter months, when food is scarce.
• A single tick can produce 20,000 eggs. Yikes!
• They cannot jump, but prefer to lurk in tall grasses, waiting for unfortunate victims to pass by.
• There are 850 different types of ticks. There are approximately 200 here in the United States.
• They will feed on almost anything that moves, including mammals, birds, people, pets, and even bugs.
• Ticks hate sunlight. This may work to your advantage. Installing a three-foot gravel walk around your home can help deter them.
• The most prevalent ticks in North America are the American Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick, Blacklegged Tick (aka Deer Tick), and Brown Dog Tick.

Ticks can spread a variety of diseases to humans and pets. Lyme disease is the most well-known. Other conditions they can transmit include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Ehrlichiosis. Contact your Orlando, FL veterinarian for further information.

Heartworms

Heartworms, as the name implies, infect dogs’ hearts. They also inhabit other critical organs, including the lungs. Despite the fact that they are minuscule at the time of transition, they grow to adulthood in around six months. As the worms grow, they disrupt key functions. If left untreated, infestations can be lethal. Heartworms are carried by mosquitoes, thus pets can become infected anyplace there are mosquitoes, including their own beds. Another cause for caution is that heartworms are both difficult and expensive to treat.

Roundworms

Roundworms are the most prevalent intestinal parasites in cats and dogs. Severe infestations can create intestinal obstructions, which can be fatal. Pets can contract roundworms in a variety of ways. They can be passed down from mothers to their puppies. Fido and Fluffy can also consume the eggs by eating infected animals or through a host.

Other parasites that can endanger pets include  hookworms, coccidia, giardia, Tapeworms, whipworms, and threadworms. None are pleasant, but it’s important to know how to protect your pet. Ask your vet for more information. 

What Are the Signs of Parasites in Pets?

That one is ultimately determined by the parasite type. Itching is often the first sign of an external parasite. Flea filth is yet another indicator of flea infestation. You may also notice your pet’s skin turning red or inflamed. Other symptoms include skin discoloration, restlessness, and hair loss. You may also be able to see the parasites directly.

Internal parasites create a variety of difficulties. Some symptoms to look for include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, bloating, fur loss, blood in the stool, coughing, weakness, lethargy, and respiratory problems.

When Should I Start My Pet on Parasite Control?

We normally recommend that puppies be dewormed by the time they reach 8 weeks. Little Fido will need to be on parasite prevention for the rest of his life after that. Kittens should be dewormed at around 4 weeks and then once a month until they are about 6 months old. Fluffy will still require parasite control after that. Consult your veterinarian for a recommended dose schedule.

Which Type of Parasite Control Is Best for My Pet?

There are many different items accessible today. You can choose chews, topical drops, or even shots in some situations. Shampoos and collars are another option for flea and tick prevention. Ultimately, it will come down to personal preference. Talk to your veterinarian about the many possibilities and determine which one will work best for you and your cherished pet.

Book An Appointment At Our Orlando, FL Pet Clinic

Are you looking for a fantastic vet in the area? Is your pet in need of immunizations or parasite control? Please feel free to call your Orlando, FL pet clinic at any time. We are dedicated to providing excellent care. We also offer many services pertaining to pet reproduction, so if you have questions about things like dog insemination in Longwood, FL, give us a call.