Parasite Prevention

Proactive Action for a Healthy Pet

Flea & Tick Prevention

Fleas and ticks are everywhere, and in our area, ticks can spread serious diseases like Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma. Since Lyme disease is common here, we stay up to date on the best prevention options and strongly recommend monthly flea and tick preventatives—sometimes even a combination for certain pets.

Fleas can also carry tapeworms, and ticks thrive in wooded areas and tall grass. Since your pet is exposed every time they go outside (even briefly), prevention is key. We also recommend Lyme disease vaccination for dogs. Even indoor pets aren’t completely safe—fleas can hitch a ride on people and other animals.

The good news? There are plenty of safe, effective products available at our hospital to keep your pet protected year-round.

Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is a serious, potentially fatal condition spread by mosquitoes, affecting dogs and sometimes cats. Symptoms develop slowly and include coughing, breathing difficulties, and exercise intolerance. Because it’s becoming more common, we recommend annual testing and year-round prevention.

Heartworm prevention is easy—dogs can take a tasty monthly chewable, and cats have similar options. We also include heartworm testing and tick screening in our routine blood work to keep your pet safe and healthy.