If you have a pet, you need to make sure that he or she receives proper veterinary care. Veterinarians can help your pet in a variety of ways. One of the best forms of preventative care is flea and tick prevention. Using specific medications and treatments, vets can make sure that your pet does not become infested with fleas and ticks. Visit our team at Bayou South Animal Hospital to speak with one of our veterinarians in Lake Charles about preventative pet care.
Flea and Tick Prevention
Fleas are small jumping insects and can infest a variety of animals. Often, certain species of fleas prefer certain species of hosts, say rats, cats, or dogs. Ticks are arachnids and are related to spiders. They are hardy parasites and are difficult to kill and remove. Both fleas and ticks are dangerous and can cause a variety of health issues and hassles. When it comes to these parasites, preventative pet care is the best form of treatment.
A veterinarian can prescribe flea and tick medication that will kill these pests if they bite your pet. The right oral or topical tick and flea medication can be effective at both driving fleas and ticks away and killing them.
Some flea and tick preventative treatments can be bought over the counter at pet stores. That said, it is best to talk with a veterinarian about which tick and flea medications will work best for your pet. Oral flea medications might work best for one dog, while a collar may work better for another. Our veterinarians can also help you select a shampoo to kill any ticks or fleas that are already present. We can also teach you how to look for warning signs and what to do if your pet is bitten by a tick.
Vaccinations and Other Forms of Preventative Care
Our veterinarians will also recommend vaccinations to protect your pets from diseases that are spread by parasites. When it comes to dangerous diseases, preventative care can save your pet from a lot of suffering and may even save its life!
Heartworm disease is another dangerous disease that is caused by parasites. Fortunately, preventative medications are available to kill the parasitic worms that cause heartworm disease. Besides flea and tick prevention, you should consider heartworm preventative medications as well. While dogs are the most common victims of heartworms, cats and other animals can also contract them.
Contact Our Team in Lake Charles, LA
If your pet is not on a flea at tick prevention method, call our team at Bayou South Animal Hospital today at (337) 480-1500 to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians.