Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm prevention for dogs is an important concern for every pet owner. Prevention is an important part of providing essential care, and heartworm disease prevention for dogs is something every owner can do.
Heartworm preventives come in different forms, including monthly chewable pills and topical “spot on” medications, as well as an injectable medication that is given every 6 or 12 months. Heartworm preventives are available only by prescription from veterinarians.
Some preventives only prevent heartworms, some protect pets from heartworms and intestinal parasites, and some protect pets from many different parasites, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas, ticks and mites. Our veterinarians will recommend what product will be best for you pet’s lifestyle and needs.
Flea and Tick Control
Fleas and ticks are capable of transmitting infection and disease to pets through a bite. Many pets also suffer from severe allergic reaction to the bites of fleas and ticks. It is imperative that owners prevent these parasites by using one of the many commercially available products that protect pets from fleas and ticks.
Our hospital carries a variety of flea and tick control products both oral and topical for dogs and cats. Our staff and veterinarians will help you choose the correct product based on your pet’s risk factors and health status. We can even have these delivered to your doorstep from our VCA online store.
In addition, because of the damages posed by intestinal parasites to both pets and people, all dogs and cats should have at least one fecal examination per year to test for intestinal parasites (e.g., roundworms, hookworms, Giardia). In some parts of the country where intestinal parasites are known to be more common, several fecal exams per year are recommended. There are specific treatments available for pets with GI (gastrointestinal) parasites.