Brrr it’s cold out there again! Mother Nature gave us a little tease with the nice sunny and warm weather. Well at least we know that spring is right around the corner and is on its way. And with saying that now is a good time to start thinking about parasite protection.
What parasites, you ask? None other than fleas, ticks, heartworm and internal parasites. These parasites live either on or inside your pet. Fleas and ticks live on skin, fur and/or other body surfaces such as in between toes, lips, ears, etc. and they feed on the blood of animals. They can also feed off humans as well! Heartworm is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. And internal parasites such as hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms and whipworms are caused by dogs and cats ingesting stool of wild animals, or by hunting, catching or eating carcasses, and/or even getting into garbage.
So, when is the recommended time to start prevention, you ask…well as the weather is warming up, is a good time. Spring and Fall are the times when fleas and ticks are most active although they can be active all year round too. Ticks can bite and transmit diseases when the temperature is at 4 degrees Celsius or more.
Did you know that ticks carry and transmit diseases such as Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis and Lyme. Even a nymph-stage tick which is no bigger that a poppy seed can and will transmit diseases. The good news is with regular prevention a tick will die once it has taken a blood meal and before spreading disease.
Mosquitoes carry the Heartworm parasite which forms worms in the heart of pets and can be prevented with medication. Because of how cold it is in the winter our pets do not need to be on prevention for Heartworm unless you are travelling South with your pets. Typically, Heartworm prevention begins June 1st in Ontario.
Like ticks, fleas are a common issue as well, being most active from March to November. But be aware they can be a problem all the year through especially if not treated.
If you’re unsure of what to do or what should be done and when, reach out to us here at Long Beach Veterinary Hospital, and a Technician can help guide you on proper treatment options for your pets.
Denise’s tip: This video may help you since we are not available after business hours: How to Remove a Tick
