Pet Parasite Prevention and Control in Cary

Flea and Tick Treatment from Your Cary Veterinarian

When warm weather arrives, so do the many annoying and downright dangerous parasites that affect our pets. At Chatham Animal Hospital, we provide complete flea and tick, heartworm, and other parasite protection and control for pets. In fact, our Cary veterinarian has developed the most comprehensive parasite protection program in the entire area.

Common Parasites in North Carolina

The most commonly known pet parasites are fleas, ticks, and heartworms, but there are many others that can range from annoying to critical.

Parasites are either internal or external and include the following:

• Coccidia
• Giardia
• Hookworms
• Roundworms
• Tapeworms
• Whipworms
• Heartworms
• External
• Flea
• Tick
• Ear mites
• Lice
• Scabies

Parasites feed off their host's body, either internally or externally, and can cause damage to the organs or the skin. The most common parasite in our area is fleas, and for a pet, an infestation of fleas is pure misery. In addition, fleas can spread to humans as well as infest an entire house.

Diagnosing Parasites in Your Pet

An important part of every pet wellness exam is for our veterinarian to determine if your pet has parasites. First, we check for the internal parasites which, left untreated, can cause serious internal damage to your pet. We diagnose these through fecal testing and sometimes blood work. The flea and tick checks are visual with fleas easier to detect than ticks. If we determine that your pet has parasites, our Cary veterinarian will implement a treatment plan right away.

Parasite Treatment

The type ofparasite determines the treatment plan we use. For internal parasites, we prescribe medication in either liquid, tablet, or injected form. The medication’s contents are formulated to kill the offending parasite and sometimes more than one application is necessary.

The best way to treat for fleas and ticks is to prevent them altogether. Not only do fleas cause pets to itch incessantly, but they also carry diseases such as plague, cat scratch disease, and tapeworms. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, a serious disease for humans and pets.

For existing flea infestation, you’ll need to take a number of steps including:

• Washing all bedding
• Vacuuming all rugs and upholstered furniture
• Treating the home with special chemicals

Parasite Prevention Plans

If you or your pet has ever been affected by some sort of parasite, you know you never want to go there again. Our prevention plan is completely effective when implemented correctly. For heartworm protection, our Cary veterinarian prescribes tablets which are given to the pet monthly. Several types of flea and tick preventatives are available in either topical, pill or collar form.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

We urge you to keep your pet protected from potentially hazardous parasites and here at our Cary animal hospital, we are committed to helping you do just that. We look forward to meeting with you and your furry friends!

Call us at (919) 469-8114 or complete our online form to get started on your pet’s parasite treatment.