As warmer weather approaches, people are spending more time outside with their pets. This means there is an increased chance of flea and tick bites. Because we don't have very long periods of freezing temperatures on Cape Cod, your pet is still at risk of picking up fleas and ticks even during the colder months. For this reason, the doctors at VACC recommend year round flea and tick prevention. If your pet has not been on these preventatives all year, now is the time to start back up again.
Not only can fleas make your pet itchy and cause anemia, but they can carry diseases like Bartonella (also known as "cat scratch disease"), and parasites such as tapeworms. Ticks harbor many diseases as well, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. At VACC we recommend monthly treatment with Canine Advantix II for our canine friends. This product not only kills fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, but it repels them too, so most of the time they don't even get a chance to bite. For our feline friends we recommend Revolution. While this product is not 100% effective against ticks, we feel it is the best option because it prevents fleas, feline heartworm, ear mites, roundworm, and hookworm.
If you have any questions or concerns about fleas and ticks, ask your veterinarian, or contact us here at VACC.
