Prevention is better than a cure!
As with most illnesses, prevention is almost certainly better than the cure. It is important for you and your family to take precautions to help prevent your pet from becoming infected by parasites like fleas, ticks, heartworm, and other internal and external parasites. Not only is your pet at risk, many diseases are zoonotic meaning they can be spread to humans.
External Parasites:
Fleas, ticks, mites and lice external parasites that not only cause discomfort but also transmit serious diseases that can result in cardiac conditions, joint problems, lameness, and neurological disorders.
Fleas are wingless pests that prefer warm temperatures and can live up to 100 days on their host laying up to 40 eggs per day. Unlike the northern states where the winter cold helps control the flea, here in Southern California they are persistent all year round. To control fleas, your pet needs to be on a flea prevention medicine, either internal or topical, all year long. Additionally, typically the cleaner the house the less likely for a 'flea explosion'. Vacuuming regularly (dispose of the bag) and cleaning your pet's favorite spots can drastically help inside. Outside, keep your yard trimmed and free of trash to keep critters with fleas from visiting your yard. If all else fails, call the exterminator.
Ticks spend most of their lives living off their hosts, and they are typically harder to kill than fleas. You can keep your yard trimmed and clean to help prevent ticks from infecting your pet. Also avoiding other animals, wild areas (the estuary and fields) can help. Tick prevention medicine will help prevent ticks from infecting your pet (never use dog tick medicine on a cat).
Internal Parasites:
Internal parasites include common worms and microscopic protozoa. The common worms are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Coccidia, toxoplasmosis, and giardia are a few varieties of the protozoa. In order to ensure your pet is free from internal parasites, our veterinarians require a stool sample and suggest preventatives. However, if your pet should contract a worm, our veterinarians will prescribe an appropriate dewormer frokm our pharmacy. Protozoa require even more care. The common ways for your pet to become infected are:
Heartworm Disease:
Heatworm is spread by mosquitoes and is a worm that attacks your pet's heart and lungs. The larvae are harmless, but once it develops into a worm it moves via the blood stream to the heart and can cause serious heart and respiratory problems. While Southern California does not have the swarms of mosquitoes that parts of the country do, we still have mosquitoes and heartworm in the region. Our veterinarians recommend monthly heartworm prevention and yearly testing for heartworm for the safety of your pet.
External Parasites:
Fleas, ticks, mites and lice external parasites that not only cause discomfort but also transmit serious diseases that can result in cardiac conditions, joint problems, lameness, and neurological disorders.
Fleas are wingless pests that prefer warm temperatures and can live up to 100 days on their host laying up to 40 eggs per day. Unlike the northern states where the winter cold helps control the flea, here in Southern California they are persistent all year round. To control fleas, your pet needs to be on a flea prevention medicine, either internal or topical, all year long. Additionally, typically the cleaner the house the less likely for a 'flea explosion'. Vacuuming regularly (dispose of the bag) and cleaning your pet's favorite spots can drastically help inside. Outside, keep your yard trimmed and free of trash to keep critters with fleas from visiting your yard. If all else fails, call the exterminator.
Ticks spend most of their lives living off their hosts, and they are typically harder to kill than fleas. You can keep your yard trimmed and clean to help prevent ticks from infecting your pet. Also avoiding other animals, wild areas (the estuary and fields) can help. Tick prevention medicine will help prevent ticks from infecting your pet (never use dog tick medicine on a cat).
Internal Parasites:
Internal parasites include common worms and microscopic protozoa. The common worms are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Coccidia, toxoplasmosis, and giardia are a few varieties of the protozoa. In order to ensure your pet is free from internal parasites, our veterinarians require a stool sample and suggest preventatives. However, if your pet should contract a worm, our veterinarians will prescribe an appropriate dewormer frokm our pharmacy. Protozoa require even more care. The common ways for your pet to become infected are:
- Drinking unsanitary water.
- Eating grass that is infected with parasite eggs.
- Eating their own stool or those of other animals.
- Interacting with pets that are already infected.
Heartworm Disease:
Heatworm is spread by mosquitoes and is a worm that attacks your pet's heart and lungs. The larvae are harmless, but once it develops into a worm it moves via the blood stream to the heart and can cause serious heart and respiratory problems. While Southern California does not have the swarms of mosquitoes that parts of the country do, we still have mosquitoes and heartworm in the region. Our veterinarians recommend monthly heartworm prevention and yearly testing for heartworm for the safety of your pet.
