Pet Preventative Care

Preventing Ticks on Dogs and Cats and Other Parasites in West Hartford and Windsor

Prevention is the most effective way to ensure that your dog or cat stays healthy. This includes having them examined by a veterinarian at least once a year, keeping them up-to-date on their vaccinations, and, last but not least, making sure they are taking parasite preventatives as directed.

Our veterinary team would be more than happy to help you choose the right preventatives for your pet. Cats and dogs alike need protection!

Dog and Cat Parasite Control

Puppies and kittens are usually born with some type of intestinal parasite. During their first visit, we need to check their stool to check for evidence of worms, which can easily be treated with the appropriate medication.

However, internal parasites are not your pet’s only concern. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are pests that never seem to go away, and they can spread harmful diseases to your pet. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworm disease, while ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and other illnesses.

What You Should Know About Ticks on Dogs and Cats

Ticks come in a variety of colors and sizes. Common tick species that can be found here in Connecticut include the blacklegged tick, the dog tick (or wood tick), and the lone star tick. Blacklegged ticks have noticeably smaller bodies than the lone star and dog ticks.

If you find a tick on your dog or cat, remove it immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and carefully pull upward to make sure the entire tick is safely dislodged. Following removal, thoroughly clean the bite area with warm water, soap, and isopropyl alcohol.

To protect cats and dogs from becoming infected, we offer the following preventatives:

• Heartgard Plus – heartworm prevention for dogs

• Nexgard – flea and tick prevention for dogs

• Interceptor Plus – prevents heartworm, roundworm, tapeworm and other internal parasites in dogs

• Revolution – flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats

• Frontline Gold – flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats
  
  

Contact one of our three animal hospital locations for more information regarding our parasite preventatives. We would be glad to help you choose the best options for your pet.

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