Los Angeles Pet Parasite Prevention at Hancock Park Veterinary Clinic
Some pets automatically make friends wherever they go, but there’s a certain type of hanger-on they most definitely don’t need to be associating with. Pests and parasites such as fleas, ticks and heartworms can not only make your pet’s everyday life miserable — they also pose a direct threat to his health, and in some cases the damage may already be done by the time the invaders’ presence has been detected. Prevention is the smartest way to keep your beloved friend safe, happy and healthy. That’s why your Los Angeles veterinarian at Hancock Park Veterinary Clinic is proud to serve as your resource for Los Angeles pet parasite prevention.
Fleas, Ticks and Heartworms: Three Dangerous Visitors
People are accustomed to the notion of fleas or ticks finding their way onto pets, but this commonplace scenario should be treated as cause for concern. For one thing, both fleas and ticks are carriers of dangerous diseases. Fleas are known to transmit haemobartonellosis (a red blood cell disease), cat scratch disease and even bubonic plague; their bite can also introduce tapeworms into your pet’s body. Ticks can infect your pet with Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis (“dog tick fever”) and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Even if your pet escapes infection, the bites can produce allergic dermatitis — and scratching obsessively at the welts can cause broken skin and bacterial infection.
Heartworms are another potentially devastating health threat that make Los Angeles pet parasite protection a must. These creatures enter your pet’s bloodstream in their larval form via mosquito bite, growing into masses of long, thin worms in the heart and lungs until cardiopulmonary failure finally occurs. Once a dog has been diagnosed with heartworms, treatment to remove these parasites can be a lengthy and complicated process. Cats with heartworm have no safe treatment options for removing the parasites, since their expulsion can trigger a sudden fatal reaction.
Options for Pet Parasite Prevention in Los Angeles
The good news is that there are many options for simple, effective pet parasite prevention in Los Angeles. A variety of medications can stop fleas, ticks and/or heartworms in their tracks when administered on a regular basis to keep the protection going all year round. Many of these products take the form of monthly topical or chewable products. Flea and tick collars can provide many weeks of protection, provided that your pet isn’t allergic to them. Be aware that some products kill one type of pest but not another, or kill fleas at different stages of their life cycles; this may mean that your pet needs multiple medications for full protection. Our Los Angeles veterinarian will help you choose the right combination of Los Angeles pet parasite prevention medications.
Call Our Veterinarian in Los Angeles Today
Don’t put off your pet’s Los Angeles pet parasite prevention. Call Hancock Park Veterinary Clinic at (323) 936-6952 for an appointment with our veterinarian in Los Angeles!