Frequently Asked Questions - Parasite prevention

The likelihood of parasite exposure is growing. Dogs are becoming increasingly popular travel companions, and parasites including fleas, ticks and heartworm are expanding into new areas, too. Making matters worse, warming trends are giving parasites more time to be active, typically anytime the weather is above 0oC.  

Bites from ticks, fleas and mosquitos can easily go unnoticed. Pets are often non discriminatory when eating items outdoors or grooming themselves and may ingest small creatures, fleas, flies, worms, snails, feces, grass or soil (in addition to many other things!)

Even the tiniest of nymphs (baby ticks) is able to transmit disease, and ticks are masters at hiding in overlooked spots especially on pets with long fur! Keeping pets indoors can provide a false sense of security, but mosquitos can easily enter homes and ticks can attach during trips to the yard.  

Undiagnosed infections can lead to later problems. Many infected pets are asymptomatic, and an infection that’s allowed to progress to a chronic state is often more difficult and costly to treat.  This could mean that heartworm larva progress to adult stages and take up residence in the heart or that diseases such as Lyme disease can affect the function of the kidneys and joints. Its best to know that your pet is negative and healthy!

A small sample of blood is taken from your pet and run via our in house lab on a snap test. Results take 8 minutes and is often completed before you leave the office!

Fleas and Ticks are now considered year around parasites espeically now that our winters are more mild. Based on your pets lifestyle and travel history you may consider treatment for 6, 9 or 12 months of the year. For those that are low risk treating during our warmer months is recommended from June to November. For those that are acitve outdoors and enjoy time in yards or on trails consider 9 or 12 month protocols.