With warmer weather approaching, now is the time to ensure our pets are protected against parasites and disease. Our pets are susceptible to both external parasites (fleas and ticks) and internal parasites (heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, giardia, and coccidia). With all these parasites to be concerned about, it is important to provide monthly protection for our pets to prevent parasitic infections.

The most visible parasites on our pets are fleas and ticks. Fleas can cause multiple problems to our pets such as flea allergy dermatitis, secondary skin infections, tapeworm infections, and anemia. Fleas can also carry the bacteria, Bartonella henselae, that causes Cat Scratch disease in humans. Ticks can act as vectors to transmit disease such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrichiosis, Babesiosis, and Tick Paralysis. Ticks can cause a fatal disease in cats called Cytauxzoonosis. Ticks can cause vector borne disease in humans as well. The good news is that there are several prescription medications to kill and prevent fleas and ticks. Your veterinarian can recommend and provide them for your pet. A fabulous new once a month flea medication called Comfortis works like no other. You give a chewable Comfortis tablet to your dog and it starts killing fleas in 30 minutes and continues to work for a full 30 days. A new topical medication called Promeris will kill and prevent fleas and ticks for one month duration. Promeris is a single spot topical application for use in dogs eight weeks of age and older.

The internal parasites that affect our pets are a little trickier to notice because you usually don’t see them. Two parasites that may be visible in your pet’s feces are tapeworms and roundworms. Most internal parasites shed microscopic eggs in the pet’s feces. Your veterinarian can check your pet’s feces and determine if there any intestinal parasite eggs or organisms with a microscopic examination. Intestinal parasites that can infect our pets are hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, coccidia, and giardia. People can be infected with zoonotic diseases caused by hookworms, roundworms, and giardia. To prevent of zoonotic diseases, wash your hands after handling your pet, their feces, their food bowls, their toys, and especially before you eat.

One of the most deadly parasites that infects both dogs and cats is heartworms. The mosquito is the vector for the parasite and infects dogs and cats when they bite your pet. Just one heartworm can be fatal in a cat. Dogs usually become very sick by infection of many heartworms. The good news is there are new medications for dogs and cats that prevent heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and fleas all in one topical monthly application. See your veterinarian to get all you pets protected against external and internal parasites.

So, lets all have a safe and wonderful springtime by practicing good hygiene, sanitation and make sure we give our pets the proper medicine to keep them parasite free.

Frank Mills II, DVM

Hospital Director

Pasadena Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center