Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and Ticks are a serious concern for our pets. These parasites can cause infestation on the pets and their environment. Serious, sometimes life threatening, diseases may also be transmitted from these parasites to pets and people.
The most common parasites of our companion animals are fleas and ticks. Fleas are particularly pesky, since they can infest your pet and their environment (your home and yard). Most owners first notice their pet’s discomfort and scratching. Fleas are easy to identify. They are small, wingless, brown, and fast moving. Some dogs and cats can be allergic to fleas’ saliva, which causes their skin to become inflamed. In addition, if the fleas carry diseases, cats may easily become infected. Cats ingest a large amount of the fleas from their coats while grooming.
Ticks are a serious problem year round in middle Tennessee. Ticks prefer to hang out in wooded, damp, and grassy areas before attaching themselves to your pet. Some tick bites may be harmless; others can cause anemia, skin damage, irritation, and hypersensitivity. Diseases transmitted by tick bites include Lyme disease, Ehrlichia (most common here) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. If untreated, these diseases can cause severe health problems and can be fatal. Common symptoms for these infections are joint pain, lameness, fever, depression, loss of appetite, weakness/fatigue, cough, labored breathing and bruising. If any of these symptoms are noted, immediate evaluation by a veterinarian is recommended.
Old-fashioned flea dips and older topical treatments for fleas and ticks are not very effective in treating flea infestations. They can be highly toxic, especially in small dogs and cats. Severe side effects include vomiting, fever, excessive drooling, tremors/seizures, coma, and possibly death.
Newer, more effective and safe treatments are available. Our staff is happy to discuss the best treatment options for your dog or cat. Flea and tick preventatives are available in many forms. These include topical treatments, oral preventatives and a revolutionary new collar.
Heartworms
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition. It has been reported in all 50 states. Heartworms are transmitted to dogs and cats by mosquitos. These parasitic worms live in the pulmonary artery and the right side of the heart. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection. This includes pets that are strictly indoor only pets. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to result in heartworm disease!
For both dogs and cats, clinical signs of heartworm disease may not be recognized in the early stages, as the number of heartworms in an animal tends to accumulate gradually over a period of months and sometimes years and after repeated mosquito bites. Recently infected dogs may exhibit no signs of the disease. Over time, infected dogs begin to show symptoms, including a mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise, fatigue after only moderate exercise, reduced appetite and weight loss.
Cats suffering from heartworm disease typically show symptoms that are very non-specific. Chronic clinical signs include vomiting, gagging, difficulty or rapid breathing, lethargy and weight loss. Symptoms are frequently attributed to feline asthma or allergic bronchitis, as heartworm disease causes more damage to the lungs of the cat than the heart.
Every cat or dog should receive protection / prevention for heartworm disease year round! Our staff is happy to help you choose the right preventative for your pet! Topical combination prevention, oral prevention and long lasting injectable prevention (dogs only) are available at our hospital.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are commonly found in puppies and kittens, but can also be a problem for adult animals. These parasites can affect your pet’s ability to absorb nutrients and result in illnesses. The most common internal parasites are tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms. Some parasites may be transmitted to humans, especially children, and can cause serious human health problems, including blindness. Tapeworms can be passed onto your pet by ingestion of fleas.
Animals that spend time outdoors, particularly those that hunt, are at an increased risk for intestinal parasites. We recommend testing kittens and puppies at each visit to ensure they are parasite free. Annual parasite screening is recommended for adult pets. Outdoor cats should be dewormed every 4 to 6 months to ensure they remain parasite free.
Fleas and Ticks are a serious concern for our pets. These parasites can cause infestation on the pets and their environment. Serious, sometimes life threatening, diseases may also be transmitted from these parasites to pets and people.
The most common parasites of our companion animals are fleas and ticks. Fleas are particularly pesky, since they can infest your pet and their environment (your home and yard). Most owners first notice their pet’s discomfort and scratching. Fleas are easy to identify. They are small, wingless, brown, and fast moving. Some dogs and cats can be allergic to fleas’ saliva, which causes their skin to become inflamed. In addition, if the fleas carry diseases, cats may easily become infected. Cats ingest a large amount of the fleas from their coats while grooming.
Ticks are a serious problem year round in middle Tennessee. Ticks prefer to hang out in wooded, damp, and grassy areas before attaching themselves to your pet. Some tick bites may be harmless; others can cause anemia, skin damage, irritation, and hypersensitivity. Diseases transmitted by tick bites include Lyme disease, Ehrlichia (most common here) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. If untreated, these diseases can cause severe health problems and can be fatal. Common symptoms for these infections are joint pain, lameness, fever, depression, loss of appetite, weakness/fatigue, cough, labored breathing and bruising. If any of these symptoms are noted, immediate evaluation by a veterinarian is recommended.
Old-fashioned flea dips and older topical treatments for fleas and ticks are not very effective in treating flea infestations. They can be highly toxic, especially in small dogs and cats. Severe side effects include vomiting, fever, excessive drooling, tremors/seizures, coma, and possibly death.
Newer, more effective and safe treatments are available. Our staff is happy to discuss the best treatment options for your dog or cat. Flea and tick preventatives are available in many forms. These include topical treatments, oral preventatives and a revolutionary new collar.
Heartworms
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition. It has been reported in all 50 states. Heartworms are transmitted to dogs and cats by mosquitos. These parasitic worms live in the pulmonary artery and the right side of the heart. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection. This includes pets that are strictly indoor only pets. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to result in heartworm disease!
For both dogs and cats, clinical signs of heartworm disease may not be recognized in the early stages, as the number of heartworms in an animal tends to accumulate gradually over a period of months and sometimes years and after repeated mosquito bites. Recently infected dogs may exhibit no signs of the disease. Over time, infected dogs begin to show symptoms, including a mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise, fatigue after only moderate exercise, reduced appetite and weight loss.
Cats suffering from heartworm disease typically show symptoms that are very non-specific. Chronic clinical signs include vomiting, gagging, difficulty or rapid breathing, lethargy and weight loss. Symptoms are frequently attributed to feline asthma or allergic bronchitis, as heartworm disease causes more damage to the lungs of the cat than the heart.
Every cat or dog should receive protection / prevention for heartworm disease year round! Our staff is happy to help you choose the right preventative for your pet! Topical combination prevention, oral prevention and long lasting injectable prevention (dogs only) are available at our hospital.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are commonly found in puppies and kittens, but can also be a problem for adult animals. These parasites can affect your pet’s ability to absorb nutrients and result in illnesses. The most common internal parasites are tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms. Some parasites may be transmitted to humans, especially children, and can cause serious human health problems, including blindness. Tapeworms can be passed onto your pet by ingestion of fleas.
Animals that spend time outdoors, particularly those that hunt, are at an increased risk for intestinal parasites. We recommend testing kittens and puppies at each visit to ensure they are parasite free. Annual parasite screening is recommended for adult pets. Outdoor cats should be dewormed every 4 to 6 months to ensure they remain parasite free.
