Parasite Prevention

Fleas, Ticks, Heartworm & other Parasites

Parasite prevention is a critical aspect of pet care that protects your furry friends from a variety of harmful pests that can cause severe health issues. At The Ridge Veterinary Clinic, we are dedicated to helping you safeguard your pets from parasites through comprehensive prevention and treatment plans. 

Importance of Parasite Prevention for Cats & Dogs

It is common for a dog or cat to become infected with an internal or external parasite at some point in its lifetime.  Parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways, ranging from simple irritation to causing life-threatening conditions if left untreated.  Some parasites can even infect and transmit diseases to you and your family. 

Parasites that may affect your pet: 

• Roundworms 
• Hookworms 
• Whipworms 
• Tapeworms 
• Heartworms 
• Ticks/Fleas 
• Mange Mites 
• Coccidia 

We can help prevent, accurately diagnose, and safely treat parasites and other health problems that not only affect your dog or cat, but also, the safety of you and your family. 

Reducing risks for your family 

You can reduce the risk of parasitic infection to your family by eliminating parasites from pets; restricting access to sandboxes, pet “walk areas,” and other high-traffic areas; and practicing good personal hygiene. 

Disposing of pet feces regularly can help remove potentially infective worm eggs before they become distributed in the environment and are picked up or ingested by pets or humans. 

Year-round prevention 

Parasites can infect your pet any time of the year.  External parasites, such as fleas and ticks, may be less prevalent outside during certain times of the year. However, they often survive in the house during the winter months, creating an uninterrupted life cycle. Other internal parasites, such as worms, may affect your pet all year long. That’s why it’s important to consult with one of our veterinarians to implement a year-round parasite control program. 

What can you do? 

• Practice good personal hygiene 
• Use a preventative flea and/or tick treatment year-round 
• Only feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat) 
• Minimize exposure to high-traffic pet areas 
• Clean up pet feces regularly 
• Schedule your pet for an annual examination and parasite testing 
• Administer deworming medications as recommended by a veterinarian and ask our veterinarians about parasite infection risks and effective year-round preventative control measures administered monthly. 

For more important information about parasite control guidelines, ask our veterinarians or visit the Companion Animal Parasite Council at petsandparasites.org.