Parasite Prevention in Pets

Whether you are a new dog owner or a seasoned pet lover, most people have heard of fleas, ticks and heartworms. Today we would like to dive into some of the details about the importance of preventing these infections. Generally, we want to protect against two main categories of parasites, internal parasites and external parasites. Examples of internal parasites are heartworms and intestinal parasites such as hookworms or giardia. External parasites include fleas, ticks and mites. 

Heartworm disease is country wide and is entirely preventable. Heartworm infections have been reported in all 50 states by the American Heartworm Society . Your pet can be infected with heartworms when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. Mature heartworm infections can be life-threatening and left untreated results in death. Even infections that are caught early can have lasting effects. Prevention really is the best therapy. In Texas we recommend year round prevention. Most heartworm preventions are oral tablets that are given once a month, however there is a new product that is far more hands-off. This product is Proheart. It is a 6 month or 12 month injection. This is wonderful for the busy pet-owner who can’t seem to remember that once a month pill (I’m guilty). It is identical in efficacy, safety and very similar in price to the once monthly oral products. The only downside is that it only prevents heartworms and some intestinal parasites, not external parasites. It is important to know that all heartworm preventions require a veterinary prescription. If there was a product you purchased at the pet store without a vet prescription, check the label because it is likely not preventing heartworms. 

Fleas and ticks are a huge annoyance and can be very dangerous for pets and people. Fleas are known to carry tapeworms, Typhus and even the Bubonic Plague. Additionally, flea infestations in a home are very challenging to get under control. Ticks are also well known carriers of multiple diseases including Lyme, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These are diseases we are seeing more and more of in Texas. For these reasons flea and tick prevention is very important year round. There are multiple formulations of these preventative products. The most reliable are generally the products bought from the veterinarian. At Highland Park we carry several products of different applications, some oral, some topical. Discuss with your vet which one suits your pet.