Parasite Control
Adequate parasite control and / or monitoring is often forgotten step in the maintenance of your pet's health.
Your veterinarian will be able to best advise what kind of parasite control is most appropriate for your pet based on their age, lifestyle, the season and the region where you live and travel. The current risk for various types of parasites varies depending on where you live, but with warming temperatures and increased travel the endemic areas for some parasites are changing.
Some of the major categories of parasites that we generally provide preventatives or treatment for include: roundworms, hookworm, tapeworms, fleas, ticks, lice and mites. Of these categories, roundworms, hookworm, various tapeworms and ticks can also cause issues for human health. Some recommendations for keeping you and your family healthy in this regard include having your pet on a good parasite control program, regular handwashing, prompt disposal of pet feces, wearing gloves while gardening, covering sandboxes when not in use and limiting interactions between pets and wildlife. In Alberta due to the risk to human health from tick bites, there is a free program where your veterinarian can submit ticks found on pets for traces of Lyme Disease. If you find a tick on your pet please contact your veterinarian to arrange to have the tick tested.
Puppies and kittens are often dewormed multiple times in the first few months of life. There are various reasons for this, including: 1) they are at a greater risk for infection and exposure from mother and environment 2) reinfection is common due to an immature immune system 3) multiple doses are needed to clear all parasite life stages from the pet's body. Following routine puppy and kitten deworming a parasite prevention program will be designed to meet the needs of the individual pet based on their lifestyle and risk level.
Fortunately, there are safe effective and affordable products available to provide great protection and prevention for your pets. Make sure to discuss preventative measures with your veterinary healthcare team at your annual wellness exams, or as needed to provide your pet the best care possible.
Beck, K., Conboy, G., Gilleard, J., et al. (2009) Canadian Guidelines for the Treatment of Parasites in Dogs and Cats. Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel.
