It happens all summer: your dog spends lots of time outdoors, be it playing, hiking, camping or just plain being outside. Only to find that he has swollen ticks on both his ears and belly hours later. Parasites such as ticks and fleas aren’t just a problem in the summer. They can infect pets any time.
Banfield Applied Research and Knowledge (BARK), Banfield Pet Hospital (www.banfield.net() An internal research team recently reviewed over 2.2 million health records from 2009 dog and cat visits. Fleas are the most prevalent parasite in kittens younger than six months old, senior dogs and cats, and middle-aged dogs. The research shows that ticks are most prevalent in May, while fleas are most common in October. This makes parasites a constant concern for pet owners.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease, which is transmitted by ticks is the most frequently reported vector-transmitted illness. Research shows that Lyme disease can be transmitted to dogs twice as easily as it is to humans.
Parasites are not just annoying, they can spread disease to your pets as well as other members of the family. Ticks, fleas, and ticks “are responsible for potentially severe allergic reactions, tapeworm infections and can cause severe anemia and death in young, sick or debilitated pets,”Jeffrey Klausner, DVM. MS, DACVIM is the senior vice president and chief physician for Banfield.
Prevention of ticks and fleas is an important part of pet health care. Pet owners should consult their veterinarian before trying to treat them.
“Flea and tick preventive care products, like powders, sprays and spot-on treatments, offer varying degrees of efficacy and safety. Additionally, the huge number of products available can make selecting the proper preventive care product overwhelming to Pet owners,”Karen Johnson DVM, Vice President and Client Advocate for Banfield
Flea and tick products should be obtained directly from your veterinarian to ensure safety. Veterinarians can also instruct pet owners on proper dosage and application. Ask your veterinarian about tick and flea products that have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (FirstShield).
“At Banfield, preventive care is the cornerstone of our practice — that includes everything from routine vaccines and twice-annual comprehensive physical examinations to recommending the safest and most effective flea and tick preventive product that is right for the pet and their family,”Johnson.
For more information, please visit www.banfield.net.
