The Importance of Proper Flea and Tick Prevention for Cats and Dogs

Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other critters often carry harmful parasites, including heartworm and Lyme disease. Such illnesses can drastically impact the health, quality of life, and even life-span of infected cats and dogs.

Beyond the parasites they carry, fleas and ticks can also cause painful bites that can become infected. Additionally, a pet struggling with flea or tick infestation puts the rest of the animals (and people!) in your household at risk.

There’s really no question about it: protecting your animal from fleas and ticks is good for everyone!

Different Methods of Flea and Tick Prevention for Pets

As a pet owner, you should be giving your animal flea and tick prevention throughout the year—even in winter when the risk for bug exposure is low (but not non-existent). Figuring out which type of preventive method will work best for you and your animal is something our Greensboro veterinary team is happy to help you with.

The following prevention methods are some of the most popular for parasite prevention—based on affordability, effectiveness, and ease of use:

• Prescription Pills: Usually given as a once monthly tablet, this is a popular prevention method against heartworms (transmitted by mosquitoes).
• Prescription Ointments or Sprays: These medicated topical applications (again, often given monthly) protect against ticks and fleas—simply apply to the skin on your pet’s back (or as directed).

How Our Greensboro Veterinary Team Provides Tick and Flea Treatment

Sometimes, parasite prevention methods fail (especially if they are not practiced consistently and on time). In these cases, our vet staff gets to work quickly to minimize the impact and get your pet feeling as healthy as possible.

Common treatments include:

• Medicated shampoos
• Oral medications
• Surgery (for severe cases of heartworm, for example)

We also educate pet parents on signs of flea and tick infestations.