By
Dr. Jason Heller, DVM
Parasites! Parasites! Parasites! they are all over the place. A
parasite is an organism that inhabits or interacts with another
organism, doesn't help the host and most times causes harm.
In veterinary medicine and ultimately in our homes parasites cause significant problems to animal and human health alike. There are parasites on the outside of cats and dogs that can affect both us and them, most commonly, FLEAS!!!
Not far behind, but possibly more dangerous to our pet's health and ours, are TICKS! Ticks spread life threatening diseases to animals and humans alike. One of the most common tick diseases on Long Island is Lyme disease, which causes arthritis-like symptoms and fever most times.
Fleas bite our animals and us and cause anemia or low red blood cells. Little do people realize that the "BLACK PLAGUE" was spread by fleas. EEEWWW!!
Internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms to name a few sometimes can affect people and animals in almost the same way, causing vomiting and diarrhea, upset stomach, or worms coming out of the mouth or the rear.
Sometimes parasites in animals and humans also can cause severe diseases and even death. Young children and seniors are more prone to contracting parasites, due to their compromised immune system. Heartworm disease spread by mosquitoes can severely injure or even cause the death of both cats and dogs!
How To Protect Against Parasites?
Each one of the major parasites that we discussed above such as heartworm, fleas ticks and internal worms can be either prevented and or controlled with proper veterinary preventative intervention. Cats and dogs alike get all the above parasites!
Indoor cats get parasites... heartworm in cats is really causing sickness in our indoor-only cats.
Deworming kittens and puppies with proper veterinary products is most important. Continual parasite control for cats and dogs year round can prevent extreme pain and discomfort in animal and humans alike.
Products such as Sentinel, Heartgard, Frontline, Advantix, Vectra 3D, all have a place in the prevention and control of parasites. It is the responsibility of the veterinarian and pet owner to test feces once or twice a year and offer the best preventative protocols available to suit the needs of the cats, dogs, their owners and their environment.
Proper preventative protocols established by your veterinarian for you and your pets are most important. Buying products from the veterinarian is almost as important. Having the faith in the doctor to consult on and ensure the products and knowledge are correct is and should always be the reason to buy proper products from your veterinarian.
Remember, any product purchased from an outside source other than your veterinarian, including online pet stores, large chain stores, pet stores, supermarket, etc. has a potential to be counterfeit or ineffective, or worse yet, painful, dangerous or deadly to you and your pet!
Ask your veterinarian about proper preventative medicines at competitive prices to keep your furry four-legged friends and everyone else in the home healthy!
Parasites! Parasites! Parasites! they are all over the place. A
parasite is an organism that inhabits or interacts with another
organism, doesn't help the host and most times causes harm.In veterinary medicine and ultimately in our homes parasites cause significant problems to animal and human health alike. There are parasites on the outside of cats and dogs that can affect both us and them, most commonly, FLEAS!!!
Not far behind, but possibly more dangerous to our pet's health and ours, are TICKS! Ticks spread life threatening diseases to animals and humans alike. One of the most common tick diseases on Long Island is Lyme disease, which causes arthritis-like symptoms and fever most times.
Fleas bite our animals and us and cause anemia or low red blood cells. Little do people realize that the "BLACK PLAGUE" was spread by fleas. EEEWWW!!
Internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms to name a few sometimes can affect people and animals in almost the same way, causing vomiting and diarrhea, upset stomach, or worms coming out of the mouth or the rear.
Sometimes parasites in animals and humans also can cause severe diseases and even death. Young children and seniors are more prone to contracting parasites, due to their compromised immune system. Heartworm disease spread by mosquitoes can severely injure or even cause the death of both cats and dogs!
How To Protect Against Parasites?
Each one of the major parasites that we discussed above such as heartworm, fleas ticks and internal worms can be either prevented and or controlled with proper veterinary preventative intervention. Cats and dogs alike get all the above parasites!
Indoor cats get parasites... heartworm in cats is really causing sickness in our indoor-only cats.
Deworming kittens and puppies with proper veterinary products is most important. Continual parasite control for cats and dogs year round can prevent extreme pain and discomfort in animal and humans alike.
Products such as Sentinel, Heartgard, Frontline, Advantix, Vectra 3D, all have a place in the prevention and control of parasites. It is the responsibility of the veterinarian and pet owner to test feces once or twice a year and offer the best preventative protocols available to suit the needs of the cats, dogs, their owners and their environment.
Proper preventative protocols established by your veterinarian for you and your pets are most important. Buying products from the veterinarian is almost as important. Having the faith in the doctor to consult on and ensure the products and knowledge are correct is and should always be the reason to buy proper products from your veterinarian.
Remember, any product purchased from an outside source other than your veterinarian, including online pet stores, large chain stores, pet stores, supermarket, etc. has a potential to be counterfeit or ineffective, or worse yet, painful, dangerous or deadly to you and your pet!
Ask your veterinarian about proper preventative medicines at competitive prices to keep your furry four-legged friends and everyone else in the home healthy!
Dr. Jason Heller is a veterinarian with over 17 years of
experience working with cats, dogs, small mammals, birds and reptiles.
He is the head veterinarian at the Northport Animal Clinic, a leading
veterinary practice in Northport, Long Island, offering 24-hour
emergency care for your pets.
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