Parasite Control

All pets no matter how well bred or well cared for are susceptible to parasites. Commonly these include fleas, ticks, lice, mange mites, ear mites, intestinal worms and heartworms. For a more complete description of intestinal parasites, please have a look here.

• Fleas, Ticks, and Lice: These three parasites live on the surface of your pet. They are there to bite, feed on your pet's blood and to reproduce. Fleas and ticks carry a variety of diseases including Lyme and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Fleas and lice can cause significant dermatological/skin problems. Even relatively light flea or lice burdens can cause devastating even fatal anemia in young puppies and kittens. Fleas and ticks can also be transmitted to you and your family.
• Mange Mites: Sarcoptes mites burrow into the skin causing severe itch and dermatitis. These mites can also infest humans.
• Ear Mites: These mites live in the ear canal and cause itching, head shaking, inflammation and can lead to secondary infections. Remember that while all ear mites cause ear problems, not all ear problems are caused by ear mites. Only your veterinarian can differentiate ear mites from yeast or bacterial infections of the ear.
• Intestinal Worms: These parasites cause varying degrees of diarrhea, vomiting, poor growth, weight loss and blood loss. They can be devastating in young animals. They are also potential parasites for humans with eggs being shed in the pet's feces and contaminating the soil. For more information about intestinal parasites, please have a look here.
• Heartworms: These parasites live in the heart and blood vessels of both dogs and cats. Microscopic, immature worms called microfilaria circulate in the blood stream of infected pets. When a mosquito bites and sucks blood, the microfilaria pass into the mosquito where they reside and develop into infective larvae. When the same mosquito bites another pet the larvae migrate through the skin and enter the blood stream where they circulate, mature into large adult worms and take up permanent residence in the heart and pulmonary vessels. New microfilaria are produced and the cycle continues. Infected dogs develop a cough, lung disease, and heart disease and can die if left untreated.
  Incidence is relatively low in Chenango County, but on the rise, heavier near the Great Lakes or along the Hudson Valley, and extremely high the further south you go. Ideally all dogs should be protected year round. Practically, one can treat from June 1 through November 1 without problem as long as you do not travel south for any length of time with your pet during the winter.
  All dogs except puppies less than 6 months of age, must be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventative or if treatment as outlined above has been interrupted or lapsed in any way.

The Solutions:

• Frontline Plus: Safe for dogs and cats over 8 weeks
  Kills fleas, flea eggs, ticks, ear mites and sarcoptic mange mites
  Applied topically once a month
• Interceptor: For dogs over 4 weeks and over 2 pounds body weight
  Effective against heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms
  Given orally once a month
• Revolution: For dogs and cats over 6 weeks
  In dogs treats fleas, heartworms, ear mites, sarcoptic mange mites, and ticks
  In cats treats fleas, heartworms, ear mites, roundworms, and hookworms
  Applied topically once a month