Here at Paquotank Animal Hospital, our veterinarian team is proud to offer an array of services to Elizabeth City, NC, pet owners. We offer different types of pet care but are also able to help pet owners with preventative solutions that can help them avoid big emergency expenses and pet health hazards. One of those preventative care methods we advise all cat and dog owners to follow is the use of flea and tick prevention.
The Importance of Flea and Tick Prevention
Flea and tick prevention may take the form of topical medications or oral medications that are given on a routine basis. Both medications work by killing or otherwise deterring fleas and ticks from biting and feeding on your pet. Fleas and ticks are pesky parasites that can cause a whole host of issues for your pets and your household. Take a look at the following reasons why flea and tick prevention is so important:
- Skin irritations: Flea bites are very irritating to most pets. Their bites create a skin irritation that is itchy and leads pets to scratch and even bite at their skin in an effort to find relief. Pets that constantly scratch and bite can lead to rashes and further skin irritations that may become secondary infections.
- Disease transmission: Fleas and ticks can both transmit diseases to your pets that can have severe consequences on their overall health. For example, cats and dogs are both susceptible to Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, both of which are carried by infected ticks.
- Tapeworm transmission: Fleas are the intermediate host for tapeworm. Dogs, cats, and even humans can become infected with this tapeworm when they swallow an infected flea.
- Human impacts: As noted above, humans can get tapeworms from infected fleas. They can also suffer flea bites and tick bites and suffer all of the negative consequences of both. Enacting preventative pet care with flea and tick preventatives is a good way of preventing a home infestation that would lead to the human household members suffering from these pests.
Get a Pet Care and a Pet Wellness Exam from a Veterinarian at Our Animal Hospital
We can help you get the right kind of flea and tick prevention. Learn more about the best pet care tips by scheduling a pet wellness exam at our friendly Elizabeth City, NC, animal hospital today. A veterinarian on our team at Paquotank Animal Hospital is here to help. Call us at (252) 264-3371 for more information.