Monday: 8 am – 6 pm
Tuesday: 8 am – 5 pm
Wednesday: 8 am – 5 pm
Thursday: 8 am – 6 pm
Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 8 am – noon
After hours: 419-473-0328
Ticks, Fleas & Hearworms
In addition to the inconvenience associated with infestations, fleas can be responsible for skin conditions such as flea allergy dermatitis in the dog, and milliary dermatitis in the cat. Fleas also transmit other parasites, including tapeworms and cat scratch fever (Bartonella). The control of flea infestations is important to your pet’s health.
Types of Flea and Tick Products
Hundreds of pesticides, repellents, and growth inhibitors are approved or licensed to control fleas and ticks on cats and dogs or in their environment. Most OTC products range from ineffective to unsafe.
Your veterinarian is the best source of information on which product is right for your situation. Products available through Holly Farms Animal Care Center: CAPSTAR, COMFORTIS, FRONTLINE, INTERCEPTOR, and TRIFEXIS. Ask our knowledgable staff which product is best for your pet.
When to Treat
It’s best to treat your pet at the beginning of flea and tick season. The severity and length of the flea season varies. Fleas can also live inside a warm house year-round.
Worst time for fleas: September/October
Worst time for ticks: May – September
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm is preventable with a monthly pill. Because our weather is so unpredictable, we recommend YEAR-ROUND heartworm prevention. The newest and most comprehensive medication is Trifexis. It prevents against heartworm, hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and fleas.
Heartworm disease is caused by an infestation with a worm-like parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. For more information visit www.heartwormsociety.org.
Clinical Signs
Many animals may not show clinical signs of heartworm disease for 2-3 years after being bitten by an infected mosquito. During this time damage to the heart, lungs, and other organs increases, as well as the number of infected mosquitoes in the area. Signs to look for include:
Diagnosis
Diagnosing heartworm disease requires a blood test. A positive blood test result leads to a thorough work up to determine the extent of the disease. The following tests will be necessary:
Treatment
Immiticide is the most commonly used drug for the elimination of adult heartworms. Pets are sent home with exercise restrictions while the worms die off. Four months after treatment, another heartworm test is performed to ensure that all the adult heartworms were killed.
Worm death (brought on by Immiticide treatment) has the potential for causing side effects, such as:
