Flea and Tick Prevention

Dogs and cats are prone to contracting external parasites like fleas and ticks, even if they do not spend time outdoors. These external parasites are becoming more and more common in Edmonton and across Alberta.

Flea and Tick Prevention

Dogs and cats are prone to contracting external parasites like fleas and ticks, even if they do not spend time outdoors. These external parasites are becoming more and more common in Edmonton and across Alberta.

Could my Pet Have Fleas or Ticks?

Recently, the Edmonton area has even seen cases of ticks carrying Lyme disease. If your pet requires tick prevention or flea treatment, contact Harvest Pointe Animal Hospital in Edmonton to make an appointment for veterinary care. Read on to learn how to keep fleas and ticks away from your pet, what to do if you notice them, and what treatments are available.

How to Protect Your Pet against Fleas and Ticks

Pet owners must take a few easy but necessary precautions to protect their furry friends from parasites.

  • Spot-check your pets’ fur after they spend time outdoors.
  • Keep a flea comb handy to remove fleas easily and a good set of tweezers for tick removal.
  • The simplest way to prevent these types of bugs from becoming a problem is to regularly use topical or oral flea and tick preventative medications, typically every month.
  • Once you notice fleas or ticks on or near your pet, it is imperative to stay diligent with your interior home cleaning to prevent continued breeding.
  • Launder your pet’s bedding regularly in hot water and dry it at a high temperature to kill eggs, larvae, and live parasites.
  • Vacuum your home to remove fleas or ticks that become embedded in carpeting. Make sure to throw away the contents of your vacuum canister or bag right away so captured parasites and eggs do not infest your home once again.
  • Our veterinarian can provide your pet with topical or oral medication to keep parasites from becoming a problem.

How to Recognize a Flea or Tick Problem

Knowing whether your pet is suffering from a flea or tick problem helps our veterinarian treat them without delay. By regularly checking your pet’s fur, we can administer medication promptly. Do you see signs like these:

  • Fleas are tiny and black. Flea excrement resembles specks of pepper.
  • Ticks strongly resemble teeny spiders; however, they have six legs instead of eight. They will become engorged and look much like brown kernels of corn if attached to your pet. You may notice your pet scratching or biting at their skin if they have a parasite problem.

What Our Vets Will Do to Help

If your pets are suffering from fleas or ticks, bring them to our Practice for an evaluation.
Our vets will treat the problem using medication. A topical or oral medication is given monthly for effective flea treatment and tick prevention.

Contact Edmonton-based Harvest Pointe Animal Hospital to make an appointment for veterinary care that will eliminate your pet parasite problem!

our online form

to schedule an appointment!