As a pet owner, you’re probably familiar with fleas, ticks, and worms—pesky parasites that can cause discomfort to your pet and family and potentially even transmit deadly diseases. It’s our goal at Parker & Ace to make sure that your pet never has to experience fleas(or any other parasite), so we recommend finding a warm spot on the sofa and digging into this quick guide.

As always, remember that a member of the Parker & Ace veterinary team is available to customize a prevention plan for your pet based upon their lifestyle and the other pets in your household. Get in touch with us to discuss parasite prevention (or anything else on your mind). 

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ALL ABOUT FLEAS

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What they are

‍An external parasite that is the most common among dogs and cats.

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Time of year most active

‍Warmer months, usually from early spring to fall

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Common symptoms & how to spot them

‍Fleas can cause severe itching and other problems such as skin infections and hair loss and they thrive particularly well in the well-regulated temperatures in the home. They particularly like to congregate around the rump of your pet—be on the lookout for any dry, dark debris in the fur or jumping fleas! Pet parents may also notice itchy flea bites and scars on their ankles and legs.

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Why you should care

‍Fleas can carry and transmit a bacterium called Bartonella that can cause health issues in cats, dogs, and people. They can also carry the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum that can suck nutrients from the pet’s intestine and cause anal itching. Additionally, fleas can reproduce quickly, leading to a full-blown infestation if not addressed promptly. 

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How to prevent them

‍We generally recommend using Simparica Trio—a monthly tablet that protects against heartworm, fleas, ticks, and gastrointestinal parasites.

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Recommendation for fighting an infection‍

If a flea infestation is suspected, it's important to thoroughly clean and treat the home (including washing all bedding with warm soapy water and vacuuming daily), as well as consult with your Parker & Ace vet team for proper treatment of affected pets.

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At Parker & Ace, we don’t just look for parasite eggs in the feces, we screen pets with an advanced PCR test for over 20 common parasites—ensuring that no parasites are missed because they are not shedding eggs at the time of collection. The P&A Veterinary Team can prescribe a preventive program to help your pet remain parasite free, and implement a treatment program to fight off any existing infestation.

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