It’s Finally Spring….
…although Wyoming always seems to be confused with that concept! The arrival of spring means parasites are on the rise for dogs as well as cats! There are two different types of parasites to consider when we think of preventative measures: internal and external parasites. Internal parasites consist of intestinal worms and heartworms, while fleas and ticks are external parasites. Internal parasites most commonly cause weight loss and lethargy. Certain worms can be passed to humans especially those who are immunocompromised (young children and older adults), so it is very important to regularly deworm. Fleas and ticks can carry more serious diseases such as Plague and Lyme. Both cats and dogs can be affected by parasites whether they love the outdoors and are your hiking companion, or they are couch potatoes and never leave the house or the yard. It is important to provide preventatives for both cats and dogs regardless of their lifestyle in order to better ensure their overall health as well as yours and your families.
Recommended treatments for Cats:
For cats who are indoors and outdoors, we recommend monthly dewormer (Profender) and flea and tick control (Easy Spot/Revolution) through the months of April to September (depending on the year we are having). Even indoor-only cats need to be dewormed because we can unknowingly bring in parasites on our shoes or even plants that are in the home. For indoor-only cats, we recommend deworming them once a year (for three consecutive months) to make sure we are keeping them healthy.
Recommended treatments for Dogs:
For all dogs, we recommend yearly deworming (Interceptor) because even through our winter season internal parasites can be passed around. Flea and tick control (Parastar/Revolution) is determined more based on lifestyle. For dogs who are very active in the outdoors (camping trips, hunting, hiking, or even trips to the lake) we recommend flea and tick control through the months of April to September. Dogs who mainly stay in the yard are still at risk of ticks due to wild animals possibly passing through and dropping ticks in the yard, although their risk is smaller. To be safe, it is recommended to provide flea and tick control for all dogs.
If you’d like to look at our specific protocol for dogs and cats, click here. Then, please give us a call to get scheduled for an annual wellness exam, and pick up your parasite control today!