Keeping Your Pets Safe from Fleas & Ticks

Fleas and ticks are dangerous parasites that can cause a lot of harm to your pets. When you have a dog or cat, you need to take some preventative measures to help them stay free from these pests. If your pet is not on any parasite prevention methods, contact our team at Ashworth Road Animal Hospital in West Des Moines to schedule a time with one of our veterinarians.

Fleas and Pets

Fleas pose a serious health danger to common household pets. Fleas get into the fur of a pet and start laying eggs. Then, they bite the pet over and over again, as do the newly hatched fleas. This can cause painful allergic reactions in pets as well as infections and anemia. Several diseases are spread by fleas, including plague and murine typhus. They can even cause tapeworm infestations. If you find one flea on your pet, there could be many more that are hiding in the fur, and there are likely eggs as well.

Ticks and Pets

Lyme disease can be debilitating for pets and humans alike. Pets can get it through being bitten by a tick. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is also a serious possibility if your pet has been bitten by a tick. To help protect your pet from these pests, our veterinarians recommend parasite prevention medication as well as checking your pet for ticks occasionally. You should also be sure to keep your grass cut low and take out any tall weeds that spring up.

Contact Our Veterinarians in West Des Moines, IA

If you are in or around West Des Moines and your pet isn’t on a preventative treatment for fleas and ticks, call our team at Ashworth Road Animal Hospital today at (515) 225-1807 to schedule a wellness exam with one of our veterinarians. We will make sure your pet isn’t infested and recommend a few products that can keep your pet safe from these problematic pests.