The American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists continues to remind pet parents about the importance of year-round parasite prevention. Bringing your pet with you on walks, treks, and travels to foreign places exposes your pet to different parasites. As a responsible pet parent, you must see to it that your pet always has parasite protection. Here are the details if you want to know why year-round parasite prevention is necessary.
Prevention Is Less Expensive Than Treatments
Parasite prevention medications may be part of your monthly budget. However, it is less expensive than paying for extensive treatments. Parasites can attach to your pet and cause different types of diseases, such as heartworm and Lyme disease. The treatments for these diseases can drain your pockets. That is why getting the preventatives is much more economical.
Fleas Can Cause Problems the Entire Year
These parasites are not seasonal. As long as the environmental elements are right for them, they can multiply. Fleas can even live in your home when it becomes cold outside. Dismissing the need for year-round parasite prevention can cause the following issues for your pet:
Anemia can result from a flea infestation. It can affect younger and senior pets. This disease can be so severe that some pets may need blood transfusions.
Tapeworms can enter your pet’s body if your pet eats an infected flea. These tiny parasites can have a tapeworm infestation. Your pet may manifest symptoms such as weight loss. Anal irritation may also happen because of the tapeworm segments along your pet’s tail. Your vet will prescribe the right type of dewormer for your pet if this is the case.
Flea allergies can occur if your pet is allergic to flea saliva. One tiny bite can cause an alarming reaction. Significant signs of flea allergies include non-stop chewing, scratching, and hair loss. Red bumps can also appear on your pet’s tail base, abdomen, and inner thighs. Fleas must leave your pet and your living environment. Follow-up checkups may also be necessary because fleas are resistant to pesticides or insecticides during specific stages of their life cycle.
Heartworms Are Devastating
An infected mosquito can bite your pet and transmit heartworms. The baby heartworms will enter your pet’s bloodstream and start their journey to your pet’s heart. Once they reach your pet’s heart, they will mature. From there, the heartworms will damage your pet’s blood vessels, heart, and lungs. Before providing a heartworm preventative, the vet needs to perform a heartworm test.
Year-round parasite prevention can protect your pet from heartworms. This can prevent many heartworm tests in a year. It can also prevent extensive and dangerous heartworm treatments in dogs. There is still no heartworm treatment available for cats. Year-long parasite prevention is the only way to keep your pet safe.
Ticks Can Target Your Pet All Year
These parasites can carry and transmit diseases like Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Your pet may experience lethargy, fever, and joint pain. Treating these tick-borne diseases may take weeks or even months of antibiotic therapy. Without any treatment, your pet can develop liver disease, bleeding, and kidney failure.
Year-round parasite prevention can prevent serious diseases and dangerous treatments. At Mokena Animal Clinic, we help our pet parents provide high-quality care to their beloved fur kids. Feel free to visit our clinic in Mokena, Illinois, for a one-on-one consultation. You can also call us at 708-479-2811 to set an appointment or inquire about our parasite prevention packages. For emergencies, you can reach us at 708-326-4800 (Animal Emergency of Mokena) or 708-388-3771 (Premier Veterinary Group in Orland Park).
