Parasites in Pets
Parasites can make your pet sick or cause severe discomfort, such as itchy skin. Protecting your pet from internal and external parasites is vital for maintaining its health and well-being. You must learn about parasite prevention and proper pet care to keep your pet healthy and happy. Lakeville Animal Hospital in Lakeville, MA, offers parasite prevention and other pet care services to ensure your pet lives a long, healthy life. We are here to tell you about common pet parasites and how to protect your pet from them.
Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks are examples of external parasites that can infest your pet. Fleas can leave itchy bites all over your pet and make it feel miserable. Your pet might also have allergies to flea bites. Excessive scratching due to fleas can put your pet at risk of having a secondary skin infection that needs prompt treatment. Ticks feed on your pet’s blood and can transmit diseases through these bites. Some of these illnesses, such as Lyme disease, can cause chronic or significant health problems for your pet.
Flea and tick prevention products help keep pets safe from these external parasites. Our veterinarian can recommend spot treatment or other products to reduce the likelihood of a tick or flea infestation.
Internal Parasites
Heartworm is a common kind of internal parasite that infects pets. These parasites can cause life-threatening health issues when they reach the heart. Dogs and cats can both experience severe problems due to heartworm. Other internal parasites include roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, and whipworm.
Routine deworming helps lower your pet’s risk of having these internal parasites. Your pet can take preventative products to protect it from heartworms. These products generally involve having your pet take a monthly pill. Our veterinarian can discuss internal parasite prevention with you during vet visits.
When to Seek Pet Care for Parasite Problems
You should bring your pet to the vet for parasite treatment and prevention if you see fleas in your home or on your pet. You should also bring your pet in for a prompt vet visit if you find a tick on your pet. We can test for heartworm and provide preventative products for your pet during annual checkups. Our veterinarian might also ask you to bring in a stool sample so we can check for signs of internal parasites, such as tapeworms.
You should seek pet care as soon as possible since external and internal parasites can cause health problems for your pet. We can provide products to prevent parasites or start immediate treatment if your pet already has parasites.
Contact Our Veterinarian in Lakeville, MA, for Parasite Prevention
Protecting your pet from parasites is crucial for preventing discomfort and several diseases, so contact Lakeville Animal Hospital in Lakeville, MA, for parasite prevention and pet care to keep your pet healthy and happy. We can offer parasite prevention options or treat current parasite problems if needed. Call us at (508) 947-1309 to schedule an appointment.