As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, pet owners may believe that they no longer need to worry about parasites. However, this is not the case! Parasites can be a threat to pets all year round, and it is important to take measures to protect them. This blog post will discuss why parasite prevention is so important, even in winter.

#1: Tick-borne diseases can cause lifelong illnesses

Ticks are hardy creatures, and so are the diseases they transmit. For example, if a black-legged tick transmits Lyme disease to your pet, antibiotics can knock down the pathogen load, but flare-ups can occur for the rest of their life. These flares can cause illness that is just as serious as the initial infection.

#2: Fleas can make an allergic pet itchy any time of year

You may think your pet with allergies is safe from itching and scratching during the winter, but if your furry pal is hypersensitive to flea bites, they still can suffer allergic reactions. The various flea life stages can lurk in your warm home environment all year long, waiting to emerge when your pet wanders nearby, and they can find their next meal. Once they hop aboard your pet, they’ll trigger a flurry of scratching and inflamed skin.

#3: Heartworm disease is difficult to treat in dogs

When an infected mosquito bites your pet and transmits immature heartworm larvae or microfilaria, it takes approximately six months for the worms to reach adulthood. While the worms are still immature, they’re much easier to eradicate, provided your pet stays on monthly heartworm prevention. A dog infected with adult heartworms may need to undergo months of treatment and exercise restriction and can suffer from serious or fatal side effects. And, while heartworm disease is difficult to eliminate in dogs, there’s no approved treatment for cats.

Does your pet need more parasite prevention medication to ensure they’re protected through the winter? Call us or stop by our hospital to stock up.