
Internal Parasites
Even the most well cared for pet can contract internal parasites. There are many different types of internal parasites that both cats and dogs can contract by just walking through the yard. When the pet grooms after being in the yard, it can accidentally swallow the parasite egg. Fleas also carry tapeworms and can be swallowed while the pet is grooming. In addition to intestinal parasites or “worms”, there are bacterial parasites in the soil and some bacterial parasites live in stagnant water sources.
Internal parasites can be a life-threatening issue for puppies and kittens, they are rarely so for adult pets. Most parasites can be controlled by giving heartworm and flea prevention on a regular basis. Most heartworm preventives now have intestinal parasite prevention included. We are happy to go over the types of preventive available for your pet and give you a recommendation.
Even the most well cared for pet can contract internal parasites. There are many different types of internal parasites that both cats and dogs can contract by just walking through the yard. When the pet grooms after being in the yard, it can accidentally swallow the parasite egg. Fleas also carry tapeworms and can be swallowed while the pet is grooming. In addition to intestinal parasites or “worms”, there are bacterial parasites in the soil and some bacterial parasites live in stagnant water sources.
Internal parasites can be a life-threatening issue for puppies and kittens, they are rarely so for adult pets. Most parasites can be controlled by giving heartworm and flea prevention on a regular basis. Most heartworm preventives now have intestinal parasite prevention included. We are happy to go over the types of preventive available for your pet and give you a recommendation.

Flea Prevention and Control
Fleas are parasites that can cause problems for your pet ranging from minor skin irritations to contracting blood-borne disease and parasites. Not only can these parasites cause severe itching, irritation, and allergies, but they can also transmit tapeworms and diseases. fleas can infest dogs, cats, ferrets, mice, rabbits, and rats. And fleas don’t just stay on pets; they can bite people, too.
We can help keep fleas off your pet and your family with multiple kinds of flea preventions. Some of the heartworm preventions that we carry also include flea prevention. Because the products we carry are prescription items, your pet will need to have an examination within the last year at our hospital.
Fleas are parasites that can cause problems for your pet ranging from minor skin irritations to contracting blood-borne disease and parasites. Not only can these parasites cause severe itching, irritation, and allergies, but they can also transmit tapeworms and diseases. fleas can infest dogs, cats, ferrets, mice, rabbits, and rats. And fleas don’t just stay on pets; they can bite people, too.
We can help keep fleas off your pet and your family with multiple kinds of flea preventions. Some of the heartworm preventions that we carry also include flea prevention. Because the products we carry are prescription items, your pet will need to have an examination within the last year at our hospital.

Heartworm Prevention
When they bite, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm infection. Those heartworms can wreak havoc on your dog or cat. These parasites can severely and sometimes fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Some pets may not show any signs of infection; in those that do, symptoms can vary widely.
In dogs, signs of heartworm disease can range from coughing, fatigue, and weight loss to difficulty breathing and a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid accumulation from heart failure). Canine heartworm infection can also lead to a life-threatening complication called “caval syndrome” (a form of liver failure); without prompt surgical intervention, this condition usually causes death.
Although often thought to not be susceptible to heartworm infection, cats can indeed get heartworms. Cats can suffer from a syndrome referred to as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD); the symptoms can be difficulty breathing, wheezing, and panting are common. Other symptoms include coughing, vomiting (typically unrelated to eating), and loss of appetite or weight. Heartworm infection is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs.
Treatment for heartworm infection is far more expensive than prevention – and it can actually kill your dog. There is no approved treatment for cats. Some cats spontaneously rid themselves of the infection; others might not survive it. And even one or two adult heartworms in a cat can cause serious problems.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to keep your dog or cat safe: by administering monthly heartworm preventives. Most heartworm medications also protect your pet against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, and ticks. We can recommend the best regimen of prevention for your pet.
When they bite, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm infection. Those heartworms can wreak havoc on your dog or cat. These parasites can severely and sometimes fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Some pets may not show any signs of infection; in those that do, symptoms can vary widely.
In dogs, signs of heartworm disease can range from coughing, fatigue, and weight loss to difficulty breathing and a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid accumulation from heart failure). Canine heartworm infection can also lead to a life-threatening complication called “caval syndrome” (a form of liver failure); without prompt surgical intervention, this condition usually causes death.
Although often thought to not be susceptible to heartworm infection, cats can indeed get heartworms. Cats can suffer from a syndrome referred to as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD); the symptoms can be difficulty breathing, wheezing, and panting are common. Other symptoms include coughing, vomiting (typically unrelated to eating), and loss of appetite or weight. Heartworm infection is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs.
Treatment for heartworm infection is far more expensive than prevention – and it can actually kill your dog. There is no approved treatment for cats. Some cats spontaneously rid themselves of the infection; others might not survive it. And even one or two adult heartworms in a cat can cause serious problems.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to keep your dog or cat safe: by administering monthly heartworm preventives. Most heartworm medications also protect your pet against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, and ticks. We can recommend the best regimen of prevention for your pet.

Tick Prevention
Ticks are becoming more and more prevalent in North America, and they are now being found in areas where people and pets didn’t previously encounter ticks. These parasites aren’t just a nuisance; they can cause serious – and sometimes deadly – diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. Contact us immediately if your pet starts coughing or has joint pain, trouble breathing, fever, weakness, or loss of appetite, weight, energy, or coordination.
The best method for keeping ticks off your pet is by keeping your dog or cat on a tick prevention. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing or shoes. Tick preventives are safe and highly effective at controlling ticks and the diseases they carry.
Don’t panic if you find a tick on your dog or cat, even if your pet is on a preventive. Some preventives kill ticks after they have encountered your pet. Ticks can hide easily under your pet’s fur; so as an added measure of protection, we recommend checking your pet for ticks every time your pet comes in from outside.
We have a wide range of tick preventives including collars and oral medications. These products are prescription items, so your pet must have a current exam with our clinic in order to purchase.
Ticks are becoming more and more prevalent in North America, and they are now being found in areas where people and pets didn’t previously encounter ticks. These parasites aren’t just a nuisance; they can cause serious – and sometimes deadly – diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. Contact us immediately if your pet starts coughing or has joint pain, trouble breathing, fever, weakness, or loss of appetite, weight, energy, or coordination.
The best method for keeping ticks off your pet is by keeping your dog or cat on a tick prevention. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing or shoes. Tick preventives are safe and highly effective at controlling ticks and the diseases they carry.
Don’t panic if you find a tick on your dog or cat, even if your pet is on a preventive. Some preventives kill ticks after they have encountered your pet. Ticks can hide easily under your pet’s fur; so as an added measure of protection, we recommend checking your pet for ticks every time your pet comes in from outside.
We have a wide range of tick preventives including collars and oral medications. These products are prescription items, so your pet must have a current exam with our clinic in order to purchase.