March 19, 2022
Pets, Parasites & You
Pets are family and it is extremely important to keep them healthy and free of parasites.Parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways from skin irritation to life-threatening diseases. They also can infect and transmit life threatening diseases to you and your family also. Your veterinarian can help prevent, accurately diagnose and safely treat parasites and other health problems that not only affect your dog or cat, but also the safety of you and your family.
What are the common parasites that affect pets?
- Tapeworm
- Roundworm
- Hookworm
- Whipworm
- Flea
- Tick
- Mite
- Chewing Lice
Reducing risks for your family
You can reduce the risk of parasitic infection to your family by eliminating parasites from pets; restricting access to contaminated areas, and other high-traffic areas; and practicing good personal hygiene. Disposing of pet feces on a regular basis can help remove potentially infective worm eggs before they become distributed in the environment and are picked up or ingested by pets or humans.Round the year prevention
Parasites are everywhere and can infect your pet any time of year. External parasites, such as fleas and ticks, may be less prevalent outside during certain times of the year; however, they often survive in the house during the winter months, creating an uninterrupted life cycle. Other internal parasites, such as worms, may affect your pet all year long. Consult with your veterinarian to implement a year-round parasite control program.What can you do?
You can help by implementing a year-round pet parasite control program to reduce the risks of parasite infection and transmission. By following a few simple guidelines, you can do this:- Practice good hygiene
- Use preventative flea/tick treatment year-round
- Administer worming medications as recommended by your veterinarian
- Only feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat).
- Minimize exposure to areas of contamination
- Clean up pet feces regularly and dispose them responsibly
- Visit your veterinarian for annual testing and physical examination.
- Ask your veterinarian about parasite infection risks and effective year-round preventative control measures administered monthly.