Creepy crawlies are usually not welcomed in our home, but they can sometimes come in with your pets! Fleas, ticks, mites and worms are all parasites found all too commonly in our beloved pets. Luckily, there are many preventative and treatment options to help keep you and your pets safe and pest free!
Luckily due to our harsh, hot and dry climate, flea and ticks are not a very prevalent problem for most house pets. Most dogs and cats who stay at home do not have a high risk for infestations, but some pets are at higher risks. Dogs who often walk, hike, camp, or swim with their owners often travel to places where fleas and ticks can thrive.
Cats who are outside for any amount of time and who free roam are also at higher risk as they often come into contact with feral cats and wildlife such as rats and mice who may carry fleas and ticks. Cats who are eating other animals (rats, mice, lizards, birds, etc) may also be more prone to picking up intestinal parasites.
Puppies do often come with intestinal parasites from their mothers, which is why we always recommend checking a fecal on new puppies you are bringing home. Luckily adult dogs are less likely to get parasites unless they like to eat animals that may be in the yard or eat stool for unknown animals, such as at the park or on walks.
Luckily there are numerous preventatives available to use for many of the parasites we see. Typical heartworm prevention medication also can help treat many types of worms. Both oral and topical flea and tick medications also exist to keep the bugs off our furry friends. But there are no treatments or preventatives that work for everything, so if you have any concerns about parasites, talk with your vet. Don’t forget to bring your stool sample!
