Most pets will contract a parasite at some point in their lifetime. These may include internal parasites such as intestinal worms, giardia and heartworm or external parasites such as fleas and mites. These parasites can cause illness in your pet but many are zoonotic which means they can be transmitted from your pet to you or other members of your family. Children, seniors and immunocompromised individuals (including AIDS or cancer patients) are at higher risk. To keep both your pet and your family free of parasites we recommend regular fecal examinations to aid in the detection of internal parasites. Annual fecal examinations are recommended but if your pet's lifestyle places them at a higher risk of contracting these parasites, your veterinarian may recommend more frequent fecal exams. Puppies and kittens are dewormed at regular intervals until they are six months of age. Some parasitologists recommend year-round deworming for pets. To determine if year-round deworming would be appropriate for your pet, please speak to one of our veterinarians.

Heartworm is another internal parasite that can be prevented. Heartworm is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be prevented using monthly preventive medications during the mosquito season (June to November). Prior to giving preventive medications, a blood test is performed to ensure your dog is not infected with heartworm. If you have any questions regarding heartworm, please discuss it with one of our veterinarians.