At The Dog Knowledge, Charlotte’s premier dog training facility, we realize that there is a lot of confusion regarding parasite preventatives. While pet owners often feel that they are protecting their dog with their monthly heartworm pill, as Charlotte’s most respected dog trainers we feel strongly that ALL dogs should have a monthly flea and tick topical application in addition to their oral heart worm preventative. In areas such as the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland where there is so much natural vegetation around the bay area, it was standard advice from the area vets to apply topical flea and tick preventative to your dog every 3 weeks during peak summer months. As Charlotte’s most acclaimed year round dog training, boarding and daycare center we noticed last summer that even when the topical solution was applied monthly, it began to lose its potency by the end of the third week. This had a lot to do with the mild winter and possible natural immunity that the fleas and ticks had developed. Unfortunately we have had another very mild winter and are already seeing evidence of fleas and ticks. Please don’t forget to invest in a good topical solution and be sure that you apply it 3 days prior to bathing your dog and don’t bathe your dog for 3 days after the application. Regular examinations and preventive medications can help protect your dogs from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms. As professional dog trainers and behaviorists, we know that a dog with the irritation of flea and tick bites can lead to unwanted behavior.
DON’T LEAVE YOUR PET UNPROTECTED FROM THESE PREDATORS:
Ticks and Fleas
Ticks and fleas are blood-drinking parasites that can also cause serious illness in pets. Ticks can transmit infections like Lyme disease, and fleas can transmit tapeworms and cause allergies. You can sometimes see ticks or fleas on your pet, but for the most part, they are very difficult to find. A monthly medication can control them.
Heartworms
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, and they can infect dogs and cats. Even indoor pets aren’t completely safe from heartworms, since 25% of heartworm infected cats live completely indoors. Heartworms can damage the lungs and heart, and can even cause death. Fortunately, heartworm preventive medications can protect your pets from these dangerous parasites.
Intestinal Parasites
Hookworms, roundworms, and other intestinal parasites can harm pets. Some of these parasites are even transmissible to humans, so preventing parasites in your pets also helps protect children and other family members. A veterinary examination and routine fecal testing can identify intestinal parasites, and many monthly heartworm preventive medications safely and effectively control them. Ask us how to protect your pets and family.
Protect your pet. Protect your family. Let us help.
Talk to your vet or any of the dog trainers at The Dog Knowledge dog training center in Charlotte about parasite prevention and your pet’s health before parasites become a serious health issue. Call your dog training professional today at (704) 365-1892.