Flea and Tick Prevention
Fleas and ticks are often a problem long before you know they are and once you realize there's an issue... it can be too late! Infestations of your home, the bedding and all flooring your pet frequents can become a breeding grounds for fleas and ticks. Once established on your pet and in their environment these small stubborn pests can be much more difficult to treat and your pet may already have been exposed to disease.
Don't let them take over your life or put the life and health of your pet at risk! Get educated and get your pet on prevention! Read and watch videos below to understand why some pets need to be on these preventions year round.... even through the bitter cold Cleveland area winters.
|
FLEAS AND YOUR PETS:
Flea Life Cycle:
It is important to understand a little bit about the life cycle as well as having knowledge that fleas don't just live on our pets but instead on our pets and in our environment---both inside and out. Choose preventatives and treatments that are aggressive against all stages to best protect your pet, family and home. |
Courtesty ExCimex
|
Both dogs and cats will commonly have an allergic reaction to flea bites a disease we refer to as Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD). In some pets just one or two bites from a flea can insight an extreme painful pruritic (itchy) reaction all over their body. They can quickly become miserable. Foul smelling secondary skin infections from both bacteria and yeast can then occur and the problem becomes more and more difficult to deal with. See our dermatology section.
|
You can see in both pictures the thick inflammed skin which has both yeast and bacterial infection secondary to the initial flea bites and FAD. These patients will often need a combination of medications to get rid of their pain and pruritus. |
Our hospital carries many forms of flea and tick preventatives/treatments at competitive pricing. If we do not carry a product you prefer to use on your pet, we can call in these products to a reputable pharmacy. By law, we can only do so once we have established a doctor-client-patient relationship with you and have examined your pet.
|
TICKS AND YOUR PETS.
Ticks are a growing issue in our area and carry life threatening diseases. It is vital as a pet owner that you understand the risks of tick exposures and why we recommend keeping your pet protected. See the you tube links below to learn more about the more common ticks in our area. This is VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION for dog owners and owners of indoor/outdoor or outdoor only cats!! Tick preventative is more important than ever in the state of OHIO!! Click links below: |
|
DEER TICKS are VERY COMMON in northern ohio because of our large deer population year round. Those beautiful yard dwellers are the breeding grounds for some not so good looking disease carrying pests! They can carry Lyme Disease, as well as species of Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis and more, some of which are threatening to human health as well. Watch the great video below:
|
|
|
BROWN DOG TICKS are also common in our area and are also carries of infectious disease!! It is VERY IMPORTANT that you see this video. It is great information!! Click below: |
Courtesy Atlas Animal Hospital, Vancouver
|
|
American Dog Ticks are also found in our area. They too can easily transmit disease (though they are not carriers of Lyme disease) to your pet and cause irritating skin and ear disease. |
|
Courtesy Grand Stand Animal Hosp.
If you have found ticks on your pet....see our link on how to remove ticks from WikiHow on our links page or click below.
If your pet continues to dig and scratch their ears and head after removal, they likely have ticks within their ear canal you cannot see and you should call our office to set up an appointment to have these pests removed and appropriate medications prescribed.