Monday, April 27, 2015

Fleas and Ticks are Coming

Its that time of year again. Fleas and Ticks come out in large numbers every summer. These parasites pose a very real threat to the health of your pet and the well-being of your family.

Fleas
Flea infestations are one of the most common health problem in dogs and cats. Several dog and cats will become infested with fleas at some time during their life. These tiny, almost-invisible pests are much more than an annoyance. They make life miserable by disrupting your household with a vicious cycle of biting and scratching. Fleas don't just make your pet itchy, they can actually make him/her quite ill. They can lead to horrible skin infections or can even cause severe anemia (blood loss) that can lead to death. Tapeworms are even caused by fleas. If the flea happens to be ingested by your pet while grooming, the tapeworm is released and continues to develop into the adult worm within the intestine of your pet.

 Ticks
Ticks are not insects, but belong to the spider family. Ticks can be so tiny that they are not easily seen. Ticks attach to pets and feed until they are engorged with blood. Ticks cause direct problems for our pets by their presence, local irritation and local infections. Worse still, all life stages of ticks carry diseases that can cause serious health problems both for pets and humans. Ticks are second only to mosquitoes throughout the world in transmitting infectious disease to humans and animals. If your pet is bitten by a tick, the results can be fatal. If you have been in areas where ticks are a problem and your dog becomes ill, do not forget to mention to us that your pet has recently been exposed to ticks.

If ticks are allowed to attach they may cause your pet to have a fever, lameness, loss of appetite, arthritis  or swelling of the joints, lethargy or depression. They can transmit illnesses such as Babesiosis, ehrilichiosis or lyme disease.


Prevention
Prevention is key! We can prevent all of these illnesses and threats to your pet and family by choosing the appropriate medication. There are so many options now that we can find one that fits you and your pet's lifestyle easily.

Bravecto - Bravecto offers protection from fleas and ticks for up to 12 weeks! Each flavored chewable is packed with the most advanced and powerful anti flea and tick medication to date. Because the medication is chewable there is no worry about it being washed off. Dogs also love the taste so it can easily be given. Begins to work in the first 2 hours and stays strong for a full 3 months. This medication comes in individually wrapped packs.

Comfortis-Comfortis (Spinosad) is the first FDA-approved, chewable tablet that kills fleas and prevents flea infestations on dogs for a full month. The tablet Starts killing fleas within 30 minutes this allows the medication to Kills fleas before they can lay eggs. The medication is easily given in the convenience of a chewable, beef-flavored tablet. Since this is a tablet the medication does not wash off dogs that swim or dogs that require frequent bathing. Also because Comfortis is administered orally, there’s no risk of application site reactions. Comfortis is also available combined with a Heartworm prevention in Trifexis.

Frontline- Frontline Plus not only kills 98-100% of adult fleas on your dog within 12 hours like  but also has a special added ingredient that kills flea and tick eggs as well as flea larvae, providing your pet with the most complete flea and tick protection available.  Frontline Stops flea infestations and  Kills adult fleas, ticks, flea eggs and larvae. This is a topical that is applied to the skin just behind the head. Each application provides one full month of protection. The topical is waterproof. Frontline is only guaranteed if purchased through a Veterinarian.


Advantix -K9 Advantix is a once-a-month topical tick, mosquito and flea treatment for dogs and puppies 7 weeks of age and older. It contains imidacloprid and permethrin. It also remains effective after swimming or bathing. This is the ultimate protection for your dog! DO NOT USE ON CATS. Advantix will REPEL and kills ticks , REPEL and kills fleas,  REPEL mosquitoes, and prevents blood-feeding by biting fleas  and Effectively treats chewing lice

Seresto-Seresto Collars protect against Fleas and Ticks for 8 months. Seresto is available for dogs and cats. Through its' innovative delivery techonology, pet owners can be confident their pet(s) are protected against fleas and ticks for 8 months. The collar should be worn continuously for the 8 month protection period. Check periodically and adjust fit if necessary, especially when puppies are rapidly growing. This collar is also designed with a safety-closure mechanism and is water resistant.



These are just a few of the products we have for your pet. We have several combination products that will help protect against parasites as well as protect against Heartworms.  Since there are so many options we would love to see you and your pet and help you pick out the perfect prevention!