Parasite Prevention
in Dogs and Cats

Fleas are wingless, bloodsucking insects that can bite your dog or cat and wreak havoc on their overall health, comfort, and quality of life.

Fleas are the number one cause of skin allergies in both dogs and cats and are very prevalent in Yuma and the surrounding areas. Itching is the most common sign of flea bites and the most common side effects include terrible skin conditions, severe discomfort, and flea anemia among other diseases.

Fleas are attracted to body heat but can also be ingested while an animal is grooming. Soon after an adult flea bites its host (your dog or cat), it quickly begins laying eggs. Did you know that 25 adult fleas can multiply into a quarter of a million fleas in just 30 days?! You can see why it’s important to protect your pet from this parasite.

Fleas thrive in warm temperatures, like we have in Arizona, as well as high humidity. That means, there are times of the year when you should be more vigilant, but keep in mind that fleas are active all year long in our area so routine visits to your vet clinic are important.

Aside from allergic reactions, fleas can give your pet tapeworms, anemia, and other serious complications. Signs that a dog or cat has fleas is similar in both animals.

Common Reactions to Flea Bites…

• Allergic reactions with raised bumps and red skin
• Frequent scratching, chewing, and licking or grooming
• Loss of fur or bald patches

Signs My Cat or Dog Has Other Health Complications from Fleas…

• Lethargy and pale gums (could mean anemia caused by blood loss)
• Visible tapeworm segments found in pet’s stool (tapeworm infection)
• Weight loss or nutritional diseases (also caused by a tapeworm or similar parasites)

Monthly flea preventatives, like tablets/chewables that we recommend, are a must when it comes to basic care for your pet. Fleas are much easier to prevent than to eradicate once they have set up home on your pet or in your residence.

If you suspect your cat or dog has fleas, they are not the only thing you need to worry about treating. Fleas can live in your carpets, fabrics and draperies, furniture, and in your yard, landscaping, and vehicles. Seeking safe, pet-friendly solutions that kill fleas on surfaces in your home or vehicle is also very important to keep your animal safe.

When it comes to fleas, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Tiny creatures, big threat. According to the CDC, among the estimated 50,000 human cases of vector-borne disease reportedly acquired in the U.S. each year, approximately 80% are associated with ticks.

Much like fleas, they are attracted to body heat and find a host (a dog, cat or even you) to latch onto for sustenance. They can stay attached to their host for up to 10 days. Tick larvae feed on smaller animals like mice, birds, and raccoons first before they grow into adult ticks that feed on larger hosts like dogs, cats, and humans. Ticks feed on blood and this is how they can spread disease between different animals as well as humans.

Ticks are one of the most dangerous parasites your pet will ever meet. They patiently but relentlessly bury themselves into their host and transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and other deadly diseases.

Tick-borne disease is on the rise among pets and people in the United States. General signs and symptoms of tick-borne disease will show up 2-7 days after your dog or cat was bitten.

General Signs of a Tick Bite…

• Fever
• Swollen joints or limping
• Loss of appetite and thirst
• Lethargy and/or depression

Flea and tick medication is commonly paired together in a topical or ingestible pill that helps to prevent parasites from making a snack of your pet. Available treatments can last for several months, so treatment can be easy and effective.

Where there is one tick, there are probably many more! We can help you remove these nasty parasites and treat your pet to prevent reinfestation. If you find a tick on your pet, please give us a call.

Heartworm is a parasite that can enter your pet’s bloodstream through just one mosquito bite. Heartworm disease damages an animal’s heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver, with untreated outcomes often fatal.

Heartworm prevalence in Arizona is higher than you might think. Originally only a problem in humid southern states, incidence of heartworm is now well documented in California and Arizona.

While prevention and testing are a part of any good wellness plan, it should be of particular importance to any pet owner who travels with their pet.

Heart larvae can grow up to 12 inches long but it is initially microscopic and can most effectively be detected in animals through routine blood work.

Unfortunately, heartworm disease is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs. Regardless, always be on the lookout for these signs in your pets.

Heartworm in Dogs…

• Persistent Cough
• Reluctance to Exercise 
• Decreased Appetite
• Weight Loss
• Pale Gums
• Swollen Belly

Heartworm in Cats …

• Rapid or Labored Breathing
• Vomiting
• Weight Loss

Although there are effective treatments for dogs and cats in the early stages of heartworm disease, it is definitely something you want to avoid putting your pet through by being on a yearly heartworm preventive.

Like with most diseases, prevention will always be easier and less costly than a cure. Not only are heartworm disease treatments like surgery or injections expensive, but they are also very painful for your pet.