Along with spring and warmer weather we all must remember that fleas, ticks, and heartworms will again be a problem for our pets.
In addition to causing irritation and discomfort, fleas can commonly cause many more chronic and serious problems. Fleas bite and suck blood from their host and many dogs and cats will develop an allergy to the bite of the flea. This results in severe discomfort, skin irritation and often serious skin infections that can be difficult to treat and resolve. When fleas are not controlled on our pets, they can also infest the house and bite humans. Remember, just because you don’t see fleas it does not mean they aren’t there. Fleas are very good at hiding on your pet and in your home. Oftentimes, fleas will jump on a pet, bite, and then jump off undetected. Even though their bite may not leave any immediate evidence, the flea will often leave behind eggs, which increases the likelihood of an infestation on the pet and in the home. To eradicate fleas from your pets and home you must treat every pet in the house and maintain treatment consistently for at least 3 to 4 months. It is relatively easy and effective to rid fleas from your pets and your home using safe and effective prescription flea preventative medication under the direction of a veterinarian.
In the Hudson Valley, ticks are a major parasite problem for humans and pets. Adult deer ticks are very small, but can often be seen on your pet from October through May. In May, the ticks enter their 6-month nymph phase and are no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. The most common diseases they are known to transmit in our area are Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis, and the nymphs cause the majority of cases in both humans and pets. These nymphs inhabit grassy areas and are found even in mowed lawns in the middle of town. These diseases can cause joint pain, fever, neurological problems, abnormal bleeding, and sometimes irreversible kidney failure. Because we cannot always see or catch the ticks before they attach, the best way to avoid disease is to use safe and effective products to kill them on your pet before they transmit any disease.
Lastly, mosquitoes in our area transmit deadly heartworms, which cause severe damage to the blood vessels of the heart and lungs. These worms can grow to 14 inches in length and live up to seven years in a pet’s heart and lungs. Their presence is not often discovered until there is substantial and irreversible cardiovascular damage and it is too late to treat. This makes both testing AND prevention very important.
Thankfully, there are many safe and effective prescription products that will prevent these parasites from infecting your pet. Flea and tick products come in chewable tablets, topical liquids and collars. Heartworm preventatives can be found as tablets, topical liquids and injections. The duration of these products varies ranging from 1 day to 12 months. Your veterinarian and veterinary staff are well educated to help you decide the best products to use for your individual pets. The chemicals in these prescription products have been tested and used for many years, are targeted to affect only the parasites and are backed up by the manufacturer when purchased through licensed veterinarians.
Preventing these parasites from affecting your pet is much safer and cost effective than treating the diseases that these insects carry.
Recent media outlets have implicated Seresto, 8-month collars in causing illness and death in dogs. To date, there has been no official scientific confirmation regarding these accusations, however, if you have questions regarding the use of Seresto collars you should call your veterinarian for advice.
Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone at 845-876-6008, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Thank you for choosing us to be part of your pet's healthcare team!
With warmest regards,
Your friends at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital