{"id":1621,"date":"2023-11-21T16:56:46","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T00:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baysideanimalhospitalonline.com\/blog\/?p=1621"},"modified":"2023-11-08T16:59:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T00:59:29","slug":"year-round-flea-and-tick-vigilance-for-your-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baysideanimalhospitalonline.com\/blog\/year-round-flea-and-tick-vigilance-for-your-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"Year-Round Flea and Tick Vigilance for Your Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fleas, ticks, and mosquitos can really bug our pets when the weather\u2019s warm, but that doesn\u2019t mean our pets don\u2019t need flea and tick prevention when the mercury dips. At Bayside Animal Hospital<\/a>, we believe in continuous defense when it comes to pests, and in this blog, we\u2019ll explain why year-round flea and tick prevention is important for optimal pet health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Understanding Pet Parasites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fleas and ticks don\u2019t make themselves scarce in the winter\u2014they just move indoors where it\u2019s warm! These little bugs can create big problems for pets and their people if year-round flea and tick prevention isn\u2019t used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serious health risks to pets include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fleas: <\/strong>Besides <\/strong>making pets itchy<\/a>, these wee parasites transmit tapeworms, which can cause weight loss, poor appetite, intestinal inflammation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Flea bites can also lead to skin infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch for excessive scratching and biting<\/a> at the skin, flea dirt (black flecks at the base of your pet\u2019s fur), and small red bumps on your pet\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ticks: <\/strong>The most well-known tick-transmitted condition<\/a> is Lyme disease, which not only causes fatigue, swollen joints, stiffness, and loss of appetite, but can also lead to kidney problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time, pet parents don\u2019t notice ticks until they\u2019ve already latched onto a pet and started to swell and resemble tiny, gray-blue grapes. Don\u2019t yank the tick out of your pet\u2019s skin. Contact us for ways to properly remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosquitoes<\/strong>: Without continuous defense against mosquitoes, your pet is at risk of contracting heartworms<\/a>\u2014a potentially fatal condition, particularly for cats. When a mosquito bites an animal infected with heartworms, it transmits the tiny parasites to other animals it bites. An infestation of heartworms can cause damage to a pet\u2019s heart and lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms that your pet may have contracted heartworms include chronic coughing, loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flea and Tick Prevention for All Seasons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We will discuss the need for year-round flea and tick prevention at your pet\u2019s regular wellness exam<\/a> and make recommendations for effective, appropriate products. In the meantime, here are reasons why protection 365 days a year is an important part of pet care:<\/p>\n\n\n\n