Flea and tick treatment and prevention
Our pets generally get fleas and ticks because they’re out in the environment, such as going on a walk or in the back yard. Fleas can be present in many different environments. A common skin disease of dogs and cats is what’s called flea allergy dermatitis, where they bite and scratch and lose their hair. It can take only a few fleas for this allergy to become a problem. (see ear, eye and skin condition diagnosis and treatment).
Ticks typically hang out on low shrubs or grass and when your pet walks and brushes up against these ticks, they dislodge and fall onto your pet. Protecting your pet from ticks is an important part of disease prevention. In fact, there are several diseases that can be transmitted to your pet from a tick bite. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases seen in the United States are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesia, and ehrlichiosis. Here we will briefly discuss these and some of other tick-borne diseases that affect dogs and cats.
There are many good products on the market for both flea and tick prevention (some in combination with heartworm prevention). During our vaccine visits or house call, we can recommend a product that fits you and your pet’s habits and needs.