Keeping Your Pets Safe from Fleas and Ticks

A pet's furry coat is a welcoming paradise for fleas and ticks. A responsible owner knows how to keep their pets safe during flea and tick season. Your veterinarian at Danforth Animal Hospital in Edmond, OK, can advise you on parasite prevention solutions for your pet.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are two frequent concerns for pet owners. Fleas are wingless insects that feed on blood. Fleas can live for around three months and during that time they can produce millions of offspring. They cause pets to scratch, bite, and lick their skin and can also cause hair loss. They can consume 15 times their body weight in blood and can cause anemia in pets, particularly puppies and kittens. Many pets also are allergic to flea saliva.

Ticks are arachnids that also feed on the blood of pets. They bury their heads into their host's skin when they bite. They can cause anemia, paralysis, skin irritation, and, in some cases, diseases. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can affect pets and their human friends and cause loss of appetite, swollen joints, and kidney failure if left untreated. Antibiotics can treat Lyme disease.

Protecting Your Pet

Prevention is the best defense. Oral medicines, as well as topical treatments, collars, and shampoos, can be effective against parasites. Even if pets are taking preventative medications, check your pets carefully each time they come in from walks in the grass or woods to be sure they are tick free. The quicker you can remove a tick, the better. Ask our veterinarian to show you the proper way to remove ticks.

Contact Your Edmond Veterinarian

We can recommend the best preventative treatments for your pet. We also can help if your pet is already suffering from ill effects from parasites. Contact Danforth Animal Hospital in Edmond, OK at (405) 340-1020 to make an appointment today.