Fleas, Ticks, and Heartworm Disease – Oh my!

 There are a lot of perks to living in this part of Southern California. We have some of the best weather anywhere and there is so much to do. In under an hour, you can be hiking in the mountains or walking along the beach. All of this variety means that our dogs can be exposed to a variety of parasites we might not be worried about in our backyard.
With our dry climate, we have lower numbers of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes than more humid areas of the United States. That doesn’t mean that we don’t see fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes in California, and ignoring those pests might put our animals at risk. Flea numbers tend to increase as you get closer to water. That means a trip to the beach might result in Fido bringing back a few fleas, and those fleas could infest your house. Fleas can carry tapeworms and can cause a flea allergy dermatitis, making your poor pup itchy and miserable. Ticks are found in more wooded areas, so a quick hike in the mountains or a weekend camping trip could expose you and your animals to ticks. Ticks carry a number of diseases like Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Mosquitoes carry heartworm disease. If your dog or cat is bit by an infected mosquito, the microscopic heartworms travel to the heart and lungs and cause damage.
Thankfully, there are great preventatives to keep our pets protected against fleas, ticks, and heartworm disease. I recommend a monthly heartworm preventative and a monthly flea and tick preventative for all dogs. Even if you aren’t planning a trip, your dog will be protected from these diseases. And who knows when the next monsoon will bring a crop of mosquitoes or fleas to our backyards!
Call Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center to schedule your heartworm test and ask about our heartworm special!
For more information, please call Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center at 661-799-0655 and online at www.srvc.com.