Parasite Prevention & Treatment for Flea & Tick Infestations
Fleas and ticks are a common problem for household pets, but an infestation should never be taken lightly. The Maywood Veterinary Clinic offers a variety of parasite preventives and products to treat these uncomfortable and unhealthy pests.
The most common external parasite, fleas can cause become very problematic. They cause your pets to itch, leave skin inflamed and infected, carry disease, and infest your home.
Getting rid of these parasites is often a challenge, so we recommend year-round prevention for the health of your pets and family members. We do not recommend the use of over-the-counter products such as flea dips, as they can be ineffective and toxic to pets.
Found in most climates, ticks can live anywhere but most often prefer woods, grasses, and other damp areas. They attach to your pets and bite, engorging themselves on blood before releasing and falling off.
Some bites can cause your pet minor problems such as irritation and inflammation. Other more serious concerns are tick-borne diseases: Lyme disease, tick fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Symptoms of these diseases include lethargy, fever, cough, weakness, labored breathing, and loss of appetite. Any of these symptoms should precede a call to our clinic, to discuss your concerns with our veterinarians. Treatments for tick-borne diseases are available but a rapid response is essential.
Parasite prevention is certainly preferred over treating an infestation for convenience, cost, and the health and safety of your pets and family. We review preventive care with you at every wellness visit and make recommendations based on your pet’s specific needs.
Please do not purchase over the counter products for flea and tick prevention and treatment without discussing it with us first. Many of these products are ineffective and some are quite toxic. We are happy to save you time and protect your pet by offering product suggestions.
Generally, we recommend Revolution for cats and Nexgard or Simparica for dogs when considering flea and tick prevention. Both Sentinel and Interceptor Plus offer excellent Heartworm protection for dogs.
View this information about flea & tick medication for dogs and cats from the experts at WebMD.