Clifton Park Veterinary Clinic

Flea and Tick Prevention

Flea and Tick Prevention at Clifton Park Veterinary Clinic

There may be nothing unusual about seeing your dog or cat scratching, but that doesn’t necessarily mean nothing is wrong — especially if fleas and ticks are involved. These tiny pests can make your pet’s life miserable, not only by causing itchy skin reactions but also through the transmission of serious diseases and internal parasites. Your best bet for stopping these invaders before they have a chance to wreak havoc on your pet’s health is through preventative care. Our veterinarian at Clifton Park Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Kelly Cooper, can provide effective flea and tick medications to help your pet stay as pest-free as possible.

While they are fundamentally different from each other in many ways, fleas and ticks have some very worrying things in common. For one thing, both creatures survive by sucking blood from animals. While the amount of blood from a single pest may be tiny, a large-scale infestation can cause dangerous or even fatal anemia in smaller or more delicate pets. Both fleas and ticks can also cause an allergic reaction called dermatitis when they bite. The skin becomes red, swollen, itchy and sensitive, compelling the pet to chew, lick or bite it until wounds develop — enabling bacteria to enter.

Fleas and ticks do transmit different ailments, however. Fleas are notorious for spreading the black plague, but they can also cause cat scratch disease, tapeworms and a blood disease called haemobartonellosis. Ticks can infect your pet with Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other diseases.

Veterinary Flea and Tick Prevention for Clifton Park, Ballston Lake and Mechanicville

Even if you take care to bathe/groom the fleas and ticks off of your pet, the pest-borne diseases may already have been transmitted. That’s why we urge year-round flea and tick prevention for pets in Clifton Park.

Our veterinarian may recommend different types of flea and tick preventatives so you can choose the one that best suits your lifestyle and your pet’s specific needs. For instance, if you’d prefer to administer medications less frequently, we might recommend the Bravecto chew for dogs, which wards off fleas and ticks for up to 12 weeks at a time. Seresto Collar is another option that repels fleas and ticks for up to 8 months, and is water resistant. Our vet will also advise you as to which products are right for your pet’s health and instruct you on the necessary dosage schedules.

Don’t let fleas and ticks threaten your pet’s well-being. Call 518-877-7481 to schedule an appointment with our veterinarian in Clifton Park. Ballston Lake, Mechanicville and Clifton Park pet health is what we’re all about!

Our Ballston Lake Veterinarian Answers Frequently Asked Questions About Fleas & Ticks

At Clifton Park Veterinary Clinic, we know how much you care about your pets. We want to help you keep them healthy and comfortable, too. The best way to protect your pets is to prevent common health hazards, including parasites and contagious diseases. Our preventative care in Ballston Lake includes wellness exams, vaccinations, and preventative treatments and products that deter fleas and ticks. Of course, we welcome all questions about these medications, as well as the symptoms and risks your pet may face without them.

What Do Fleas and Ticks Do?

You probably know these parasites are harmful to animals, but do you know exactly what they are? While both are parasites that cause irritation, they behave differently and carry different risks. Fleas are insects that jump and lay eggs in fur, while ticks are arachnids that lodge their heads beneath skin and stay put. Skin irritation, severe itching, tapeworm transmission, and household infestations are the biggest concerns with fleas, while ticks spread a variety of diseases and cause anemia.

What If My Pet Has Never Had Fleas or Ticks?

Even if your pet lives an indoor lifestyle and has no previous bites or infestations, it’s important to keep them protected. Fleas and ticks may come inside on clothes or other animals, and your pet deserves to be protected if they wander outside. Flea-ridden pets suffer extreme discomfort and irritation, and eliminating fleas from your house is no easy task either. If you’ve never experienced fleas or ticks before, stay on the safe side and work with us to prevent them.

Does My Pet Have Fleas Right Now?

If you think your pet has fleas, act quickly. Fleas go through multiple life cycles from egg to adult flea, and if you catch the infestation earlier, it’s easier to eliminate them from your home and alleviate your pet’s suffering. Itching and scratching may not occur until adult fleas begin biting, so be aware of anything unusual in your pet’s fur or skin.

What Can I Do to Prevent Fleas and Ticks in Ballston Lake?

We offer a variety of veterinarian-approved products that increase your pet’s resistance to fleas and ticks. By making their skin, fur, and blood inhospitable for these parasites, the medicines turn your pets into bad hosts for these irritating intruders. Both oral and topical medications are available, but we recommend topical products that are strong enough to kill adult fleas and larvae alike. Unlike over-the-counter ointments, our flea prevention products actually prevent eggs from hatching and deter adult fleas from biting. We also recommend pest control in your yard and home to reduce the likelihood of flea infestations, especially during flea season (late spring to early fall).

Our Ballston Lake vet wants to help your family avoid the health risks and irritation caused by fleas and ticks. If your dog or cat still needs parasite prevention, contact Clifton Park Veterinary Clinic at 518-877-7481 to request an appointment now.