Parasites are more than just an inconvenience—they can cause serious illness in pets and, in some cases, can even be transmitted to people. Fortunately, many of the most common parasites can be prevented with routine testing, year-round preventive medications, and regular veterinary care.
Organizations such as the American Heartworm Society and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommend year-round parasite prevention for dogs and cats, regardless of whether they live primarily indoors or outdoors. At Pet Wellness Veterinary Center, we tailor parasite prevention to your pet’s age, lifestyle, and risk factors.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Every time a mosquito bites, microscopic heartworm larvae can be deposited into your pet’s skin. Over the following months, these larvae mature into adult worms that live in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels.
Because mosquitoes can enter homes, garages, and screened porches, both indoor and outdoor pets are at risk. Heartworm disease is much easier—and far less expensive—to prevent than it is to treat. We offer monthly chewables, topicals, and long-acting injectable prevention for dogs, as well as feline heartworm preventives.
Flea & Tick Prevention
Flea Prevention: Fleas feed on your pet’s blood, causing itching, irritation, and inflammation. A single adult flea can lay dozens of eggs every day, allowing infestations to grow rapidly in carpets and bedding. Year-round prevention is the easiest and most effective way to protect both your pet and your household.
Tick Prevention: Ticks are common throughout Kentucky and may carry several important diseases, including Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. Tick prevention helps reduce your pet’s risk of exposure before a tick has the opportunity to feed long enough to transmit disease.
Intestinal Parasites
Dogs and cats can be exposed to intestinal parasites through contaminated soil, infected wildlife, fleas, standing water, or by hunting prey. Many intestinal parasites cannot be seen with the naked eye, and infected pets often appear completely healthy.
Routine fecal testing allows us to detect parasites early, treat infections before they become serious, and reduce the risk of parasite transmission within the household (as some parasites can infect people). Annual fecal testing is recommended for most adult pets.