Parasite Control & Prevention

Parasite prevention protects your pet from critters that cause health problems for them. The best protection you can give your loyal companion takes place regularly throughout the year. Working with our veterinary care team can ensure your pet's medication is administered regularly to maintain their health.

What parasites can my pet get?

Your pet can become infected with two types of parasites: internal and external. Internal parasites are worms that wreak havoc inside your pet - sometimes damaging important organs like the heart. Internal worms that can affect your pet are hookworm, coccidia, roundworm, heartworm, and whipworm. External parasites are very common and include fleas, ticks, mange mites, and ringworms. Some external parasites can spread diseases. For example, fleas can transmit bacterial diseases such as rickettsia, bartonella and mycoplasma. Ticks can also cause Lyme disease and tick paralysis.

When is my pet at risk of catching parasites?

There is always some element of risk throughout the year for your pet. Parasites can be transmitted by other pets, they can come inside your home, at the dog park, in tall grass or wooded areas. Even though some parasites are more active in the warmer months, they can still be active during winter by hiding in warm places. This is why year-round prevention is necessary. Based on your pet's lifestyle and environment, the veterinarian will tailor a dosing schedule that is best for your pet. To protect your pet from parasites, please call us at 519-285-2116.

What are signs that my pet has a parasitic infection?

As there are many different types of parasites, the symptoms will look different for each type of infection. You should also consider that, in many cases, the signs don't appear until after your pet has been infected for a while. Your pet may have parasites if they have:

• Swollen abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Dry persistent cough
• Hair loss
• Itching and scratching
• Protruding lumps and red bumps
• Diarrhea