Warm weather brings longer days and, unfortunately, more bugs. Ticks, fleas and mosquitoes become more active, and they can carry diseases that affect dogs and cats. Here are answers to some common questions. For specific prevention plans, your veterinarian is the best guide, since the right approach depends on your pet, your area and your lifestyle.
Why do ticks matter?
Ticks attach to the skin and feed on blood. Some carry bacteria and other organisms that can cause illnesses in dogs, such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, and certain tick-borne diseases can affect cats as well. Which diseases are common depends heavily on where you live and travel. Ticks are often found in tall grass, wooded areas and brush, but they can also be in yards and parks.
After time outdoors, check your pet for ticks, especially around the ears, face, neck, armpits, belly and between the toes. If you find a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool to grasp it close to the skin and pull steadily. Ask your veterinarian to show you how, and watch for signs of illness in the following weeks, such as fever, lethargy, lameness or loss of appetite.
Are fleas just an itch problem?
Fleas can cause intense itching and skin irritation, and some pets are allergic to flea saliva, which leads to more severe skin problems. Fleas can also transmit tapeworms when a pet swallows an infected flea while grooming, and heavy infestations can cause anemia, especially in small or young animals. Flea populations can grow quickly in a home, since eggs and larvae develop in carpets, bedding and furniture. Even indoor cats can get fleas carried in by people or other pets.
What about mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes transmit heartworm, a parasite that can seriously damage the heart and lungs. Dogs are the most commonly affected, but cats can be infected too, and there is no approved treatment for heartworm in cats, which makes prevention particularly important. Your veterinarian can advise on heartworm testing and prevention for both dogs and cats.
How should I choose prevention?
There are many types of preventives, including chewable tablets, topical products and collars. They work in different ways and protect against different parasites. Talk with your veterinarian about which products are appropriate for your pet’s species, age, weight, health and lifestyle. Use products exactly as directed.
One important warning: some flea and tick products made for dogs contain permethrin or related ingredients that are highly toxic to cats. Never use a dog product on a cat, and be careful in homes with both, since cats can be exposed by close contact with a recently treated dog. If you think your cat has been exposed, call your veterinarian immediately.
Is prevention a year-round job?
In many areas, veterinarians recommend year-round parasite prevention, since some parasites remain active in milder weather and indoor environments. Your vet can tell you what makes sense where you live. Keeping your yard trimmed, washing pet bedding regularly and checking your pet after outdoor time are helpful habits alongside the plan you build with your veterinarian.
