Prevent your dog from getting parasites

 parasite prevention for dogs

Now that summer is almost upon us, it’s a good time to review your parasite prevention plan. Fleas, ticks, heartworm and intestinal parasites can infect your dog year-round.

 

 

Did you know:

  • Dogs can get roundworm by ingesting eggs or by hunting rodents. Roundworms can even pass to puppies while still in the womb. Roundworms in puppies can lead to poor growth, failure to thrive and even death. 
  • Hookworm larvae can hitch a ride through the skin, pass from nursing mother to pup or be eaten by your dog. Once they’ve matured to adult worms in the intestine, an infection can result in anemia, which is especially severe in puppies. 
  • Whipworms live in the intestine and cause irritation, inflammation, watery and bloody diarrhea and weight loss.
  • Dogs can become infected with Giardia by ingesting cysts in feces or drinking from contaminated water (including puddles). Signs include continuous or intermittent diarrhea. Giardia can easily spread to other pets in your household.
  • Yes, your dog can even pick up intestinal parasites! Parasite eggs are easily tracked into your home on your shoes, and your dog can ingest eggs while licking their feet.
  • Fleas are stubborn parasites that can cause flea allergy dermatitis (an allergy to flea saliva that causes severe itchiness) and pass tapeworms to your dog—not to mention start a flea infestation in your home!
  • Ticks can spread a number of serious diseases in dogs, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It only takes one tick to cause serious illness.
  • In warm, humid areas of the country, both fleas and ticks thrive year-round. But even in more seasonal climates, a warm spring or fall can extend the flea and tick season up to 10 months a year, highlighting the importance of year-round protection.
  • Heartworm, transmitted by mosquitos, is a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage and death. Mosquitos can enter your home via tiny holes in your window screens or they can follow you in through your door. 
     

Steps you can take to prevent parasite infections in your dog:

  • Promptly remove feces from your yard—whether from your pet, neighborhood cats or wildlife. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling feces.
  • Remove shoes or boots at the door to avoid tracking parasite eggs into your home.
  • Control rodents in your home and yard, and discourage your dog from hunting rodents and wildlife. 
  • Remove standing water from your yard to reduce mosquito populations.
  • Repair window screens to prevent fleas, ticks and mosquitos from entering your home.
  • During your daily snuggle or grooming, check your dog’s coat for fleas and ticks. Examine between the toes and around the ears, stomach and tail base. 
  • Schedule yearly veterinary visits where your veterinarian can perform blood tests to screen for parasites and look for signs of fleas/ticks. 
  • Schedule regular fecal tests with your veterinarian to test for intestinal parasites.
  • Most importantly, keep your dog on year-round parasite preventives.
     

Speak to your veterinarian about the best flea, tick, heartworm and internal parasite preventives to keep your dog protected year-round.

Find everything you need to protect your pet against parasites so you can enjoy the things you love to do together, worry-free. >>