We’ve dealt with what the forecasters are saying was the last snow of the season. We are now, according to the weather guessers on television, officially in the midst of spring. Soon the flowers will be blooming, the trees will be budding, and the parasites will be jumping.
When it comes to parasites, there is one important thing to know: No pet is immune to these pesky critters! That’s right: Even indoor pets are susceptible to irritating insects. Stop and consider how many spiders you kill in your house. How many flies you shoo out the door. How many times a cricket in your closet has kept you awake at night.
Mosquitoes, fleas and ticks are all small enough to catch a ride on your shoes, pants or bags. They can crawl through cracks in window frames that you don’t notice. Parasite protection is important all year round, but especially during the warm months.
Cats
1. Revolution–This is our number one choice for cats. The topical treatment is applied to the back of your cat’s neck once every 30 days. Revolution is a heartworm and flea preventive. It also protects your feline friend from roundworms and hookworms.
2. Cheristin–This topical flea prevention is new to our hospital and we couldn’t be happier with it. Safe for cats 8 weeks and older, the product is placed on the back of your cat’s neck once a month.
Dogs
1. Trifexis–This oral tablet is given to your canine companion every 30 days. It protects against heartworms, fleas and intestinal parasites.
2. Revolution–Revolution works the same in dogs as it does in cats, protecting them from heartworm, flea, and ear mite infections.
3. Heartgard Plus–Heartgard Plus is a great-tasting (or so we’re told) chewable preventive. Heartgard protects your dog from heartworm infestation, and it protects your furry friend from roundworms and hookworms, too!
4. Nexgard–This oral chew helps protect your pet from fleas and ticks. When used in combination with Heartgard, your pet is protected against the worst of the warm weather pests.
5. Frontline Tritak–Use this product in to protect your dog against fleas and ticks. Placed on the back of your dog’s neck, Frontline needs to be re-applied every 30 days. Note: this product should be used in caution on dogs that live with cats.
6. Proheart 6–We are excited to be able to offer the Proheart 6 injection to our canine patients. This injection helps protect your dog against heartworms for six months before needing to be re-administered.
While we are happy to provide any of these preventions to you and your pet, our heartworm preventives are prescription medications. Stop in and talk with any one of our staff members! We’ll be happy to help you decide which of these preventives are best for you and your pet, and we can schedule a heartworm test for your dog if necessary!
Douds Wags And Wiggles 