Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance. They can make your pet extremely uncomfortable and cause several different types of illnesses, like flea allergy dermatitis and tapeworm infestations. Broadway Veterinary Hospital can evaluate your pet to determine the best type of flea and tick prevention medication for your pet.
Pet Health Hazards Of Fleas And Ticks
Fleas and ticks carry diseases that can cause serious harm to your pet. The most common problem associated with fleas is flea allergy dermatitis, which causes excessive itching, skin inflammation, sores and hair loss. The second most common problem associated with fleas is tapeworms. Fleas can carry tapeworm eggs. If the pet ingests a flea carrying the tapeworm eggs the pet can become infested with tapeworms. This happens when the pet is biting at their skin to relive the itching.
For pets who are small or advanced in age, a severe flea infestation can cause anemia, which is characterized by rapid breathing, lack of appetite and excessive sleeping. If you suspect your pet has anemia due to fleas, it is an emergency situation.
Ticks are known to carry many different types of diseases including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease, Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can cause skin lesions, vomiting, problems with your pet’s nervous system and depression. Lyme disease causes lethargy, pain in your pets joints and a decrease in appetite. Ehrlichia causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, respiratory distress, weight loss, bleeding disorders and occasionally neurological disturbances. Anaplasmosis causes lameness, joint pain, fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite.
Types Of Flea Prevention Medication Available
When it comes to preventing fleas and ticks, there are several different types of medications available, including sprays, oral tablets, spot-on treatments and flea collars. Broadway Veterinary Hospital can help you decide which method is best for your pet, depending on his or her lifestyle.
- Flea Collars – Worn around your pet’s neck to help prevent flea infestations. Kills on contact.
- Oral Tablets – Typically given once a month to control fleas and ticks. When the parasite bites your pet, it ingests the medication and dies.
- Spot-On Treatments – Placed between your pet’s shoulder blades once a month. Kills fleas and ticks on contact.
- Sprays – Sprayed onto your pet’s fur to control in-progress flea and tick infestations. Can last as long as 30 days.
Flea and Tick Prevention Help With Broadway Veterinary Hospital
You can count on us to provide you with the right type of medication for your pet and advice on how to rid your home of flea infestations. If you are looking for a medication where the parasite does not need to bite your pet in order to be killed, we may recommend flea collars and spot-on treatments. If you are looking for a no-hassle way to control fleas and ticks in your dog or cat, oral tablets may be the right solution. If you have a current flea infestation, you may want to use a spray treatment that kills fleas and ticks on contact.
For more information on our flea and tick prevention services or to schedule another type of service, like your pet’s yearly wellness examination, call us at (507) 206-3313 today.