Parasite Protection for Dogs

All dogs are at risk of acquiring parasites like heartworm, fleas, ticks and roundworms. Parasites can cause serious illness and even death in dogs, but most are easy to prevent.

Unfortunately, people can also contract some of the same parasites. Therefore it’s very important to control parasites in your pet to protect your entire family.

You may not always be able to tell if your pet has parasites.  Intestinal parasites include four common worms and some species of microscope protozoan. The common worms are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Coccidia, toxoplasmosis, and giardia are a few of the protozoa. It is important to have a fecal (stool) sample checked at least once a year for the presence of eggs or parasites.

For dogs that have frequent contact with other animals, or pets that have abnormal stools a fecal sample should be checked more frequently.

External parasites include fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. These parasites not only cause discomfort, scratching, and skin infections but can also transmit several serious diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Erlichiosis, Babeseosis, Tularemia, Typhus, Plague, Hemobartonellosis, Bartonellosis, and more.

We recommend that dogs take heartworm preventative all year round. Your pup should also be on a flea/tick preventative especially during early spring through late fall. Your veterinarian will discuss these products and their treatments with you at your dog’s annual exam.

We carry a variety of the highest-quality parasite preventatives available. They come in monthly chewable tablets or topical solutions. All of these preventions are easily administered and go a long way in keeping your dog healthy.