Greenfield Veterinary Clinic Can Protect Your Pet Against Fleas and Ticks

Pet owners who think of their dogs or cats as their "fur babies" naturally want to protect them from any and every obvious threat. One threat is not always so obvious, because it takes the form of tiny external parasites. Fleas and ticks don't just irritate your pet; they can also promote infection and transmit life-threatening diseases. Don't wait until your pet is suffering from an infestation -- instead, rely on Greenfield Veterinary Clinic for professional preventative care.

Pest-Related Dangers to Dogs and Cats

Fleas and ticks are actually very different creatures, but they both latch onto a host animal's skin by biting the skin and sucking blood for nourishment. While the amount of blood taken may seem trivial, large infestations on small or weak animals can produce dangerous anemia. More commonly, the bite causes a skin irritation (dermatitis) that compels the pet to bite, scratch, or lick the affected area. If the tissues are damaged, they can permit bacteria to enter, resulting in a major skin infection.

The most immediate danger comes from the diseases transmitted through the bites of ticks and fleas. Ticks are infamous for carrying Lyme disease, but they can also transmit other diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis. Fleas are even more infamous for spreading bubonic plague, but they can also give your pet tapeworms, cat scratch disease, and haemobartenellosis.

Pest Prevention, Indoors and Outdoors

It's certainly both possible and desirable to treat an existing flea or tick infestation -- but by the time we've removed the pests, a disease may already have been transmitted. Prevention is the ideal strategy for dealing with these invaders. You can remove some of the environmental threats by vacuuming your home regularly (promptly disposing of the bag) and keeping your lawn and garden trimmed. But preventative medications are even more important for keeping your pet safe, both indoors and outdoors.

Our veterinary team can recommend various preventatives to suit your pet's lifestyle and environment. While some preventative medications are delivered through long-lasting flea and tick collars,  others take the form of monthly topical or oral doses. Different products attack fleas and ticks at different stages of their life cycles, while some will prevent one pest but not the other. We can advise you on the right medication or medications to keep your pet pest-free for life.

Let's Help Your Pet Stay Healthy

Ready to protect your beloved dog or cat against Lyme disease, cat scratch disease, infections and other serious health problems? Call (414) 282-5230 today to schedule preventative care!