Parasite Preventatives

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very pet owner wants to keep their animal safe from parasites and the diseases that can come from them. When it comes to fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other parasites, prevention is the most effective policy. West Park Animal Hospital is located in the Cleveland, Ohio metro area, offering annual exams, budget-friendly preventative treatments, and other veterinary services for your pets. We’ll help you understand how to prevent parasites and ensure your animal’s well-being.

Preventing Parasites with West Park Animal Hospital

Parasites are a common concern in pets. They can be found everywhere and may cause anything from an irritating itch to serious diseases that threaten your pet’s well-being. While these diseases can sometimes be treated, prevention is the best way to avoid the worry and expensive vet bills.

Your pet’s annual exam is a valuable opportunity to detect parasites early. The sooner parasites are found, the more successful treatment will be in addressing serious problems. West Park Animal Hospital also recommends Simparica Trio for dogs, an inexpensive and easy-to-administer pill that keeps fleas, ticks, heartworms, and most internal parasites from appearing in the first place, keeping your pet healthy and comfortable.

Flea Prevention

Fleas are the most common parasites affecting pets. These tiny wingless bugs hide in your cat’s or dog’s fur, where their bites cause itchy or irritated skin. Pets with fleas may exhibit the following symptoms:

• Excessive scratching or biting at fur
• Red or pimpled skin, especially on the belly, groin, under legs, or at the base of the tail
• Black pepper or sand-like particles in fur or bedding
• Bald patches or hair loss

Check your pet for fleas regularly, during your weekly grooming session. Examine the whole body, particularly the base of the head and tail, for visible fleas or bite marks. A flea comb may also help you locate flea dirt and nits. Notify your veterinarian at West Park Animal Hospital if you detect signs of fleas in your pet. Fleas may hide in your home, even through winter. Prompt medical treatment is necessary to prevent flea-borne diseases and ensure your pet’s long-term comfort.

To fully eliminate an infestation and prevent fleas from returning to your pet, it’s essential to thoroughly clean your home. Washing bedding, vacuuming carpets and furniture, and treating affected areas can help remove fleas at all life stages. For more tips on controlling fleas and ticks in your home, visit this guide from the EPA.

Preventing Ticks

Like fleas, ticks are an external parasite. Pets may pick them up after being outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas, where they latch onto the pet’s skin. Though initially tiny, ticks enlarge as they feed.

• Excessive scratching, licking, or biting at fur
• Swollen spots
• Hard, blackish bumps on the skin

Ticks are currently on the rise in the Cleveland, OH region, and can spread multiple dangerous diseases. Pet owners should be careful in checking and prevention. Examine weekly and whenever your pet has been exposed to wooded areas or tall grass. Feel for swelling and hard lumps, especially around the face, ears, toes, armpits, belly, groin, tail base, and beneath the collar.

If you find a tick, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Take your pet to West Park Animal Hospital to ensure the parasite is completely and safely removed. We also recommend a blood test to detect tick-borne diseases like Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma early. If your pet has had an embedded tick removed, we advise testing about six weeks later for early detection and diagnosis.

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm is an internal parasite that is transmitted by mosquito bites. After transmission, it quickly finds a home in your pet’s heart and arteries. Pets in the early stages of heartworm may exhibit no symptoms at all. Symptoms come on suddenly and severely and often include:

• Fatigue
• Persistent coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite
• Fainting episodes
• Sudden collapse

West Park Animal Hospital can check for heartworm during your pet’s annual wellness exam. We utilize a blood antigen test called 4DX+ to detect signs of parasites and disease. We may also perform a microfilaria test, during which we examine a blood sample under a microscope to visually check for microfilaria or heartworm larvae.

Internal Parasite Prevention

In addition to heartworms, pets are also susceptible to a variety of internal parasites that impact the intestines and digestive system. They consume a portion of what your pet has eaten, resulting in symptoms such as:

• Digestive issues, including gas, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea
• Swollen or tender abdomen
• Weight loss or difficulty gaining weight
• Dull or coarse fur due to lack of nutrition
• Lethargy
• Visible worms in stool or vomit

Like heartworms, we recommend testing for internal parasites annually. Your veterinarian will ask you to bring a fecal sample to your yearly wellness exam. We will send the fecal sample out for testing, which looks for worms and ova (eggs) found in the sample.

Learn More About How to Prevent Parasites

If you want to ensure your pet’s long-term well-being, parasite prevention is essential. You can learn how to prevent parasites at West Park Animal Hospital. Located in West Park, OH, we serve pet owners throughout West Park, North Olmsted, Berea, Rocky River, Lakewood, Fairview Park, and Cleveland. Contact us to learn more about parasite prevention or to take advantage of our other pet resources.

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