The “Season” That Never Ends: Fleas and Ticks in New Bedford
When people would talk about fleas and ticks, they used to refer to it as a season. Once most prevalent during the summer months, fleas and ticks are now a problem for pet owners throughout New Bedford and the northeastern region year-round. New Bedford pet owners need to provide their cats, dogs, and other susceptible pets with preventive treatments through their local veterinary care in Massachusetts. Over the counter remedies and poor treatment habits are just some of the reasons why fleas and ticks have become such an issue in recent years. Bringing your pet to the local Dartmouth vet hospital for annual check-ups and preventive treatments for dogs and cats can really help to keep these pests off your pets and out of your home.
Why Ticks Are So Dangerous
The truth about pests like fleas and ticks is that they aren’t just annoying and harmful to pets, but they can also be seriously dangerous to humans. As the winter seasons have become milder, these pests are hanging on throughout the cold months before returning with force in the spring and summer months. Adult fleas have the ability to protect themselves inside of a cocoon for up to 30 weeks, providing them enough time to mature and emerge when the weather gets as warm as 38-degrees. Even ticks have adapted and can become active when the temperatures remain at above 32-degrees for ten days or more – even if there is still snow on the ground.
Ticks can transmit a variety of bacterial and parasitic infections, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and Ehrlichia. Depending on the degree of the infestation, pets can become anemic through blood loss caused by the fleas and ticks feeding on their bodies. These diseases and infections are also dangerous to humans, resulting in many adults and children becoming sick due to fleas and ticks each year.
Wildlife and other local pets roam throughout the region, picking up and dropping off fleas and ticks as they go. A wandering deer can drop ticks onto plants in your backyard that your dog or cat will pick up as they sniff and mark the property, bringing them indoors to share with you and your family. Unfortunately, many of the old remedies and products used to prevent and kill these pests aren’t working as good as they used to, with many fleas and ticks becoming resistant to pesticides and even some preventive treatments. For best results, consult with professional veterinary care in Massachusetts to get a high-quality preventive treatment that will kill off and prevent pests while keeping your pet safe.
Parasite Prevention and Control
At Anchor Animal Hospital, a well-known and reputable Dartmouth vet hospital, we believe strongly that prevention is the key to controlling parasitic infestations, infections, and disease. Our pets are exposed to these risks every day when they go outdoors and sometimes even when they visit a pet daycare center or grooming facility. These pests can impact the health and life of our pets, as well as expose family members to additional health risks. Taking time to learn about the problems experienced with these parasites and working with our trusted team can help New Bedford pet owners stay on top of these dangerous issues.
We recommend regular testing of fresh stool samples as well at all wellness visits or when your pet is ill. We send our samples out to an outside lab for processing to test for coccidia, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms in dogs, as well as coccidia, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and toxoplasmosis in cats. We regularly review products that we recommend to our clients for safety and efficacy concerning preventive flea and tick products. We also offer testing and preventive treatment for heartworms, which have become very common throughout the United States. This is 100 percent preventable, and all it takes is a yearly test and monthly preventable tablet to keep your pets safe.
Schedule an Appointment
Anchor Animal Hospital has proudly served pets in the Greater South Coast communities since 1975. New Bedford pet owners and pets from throughout the local region come to our facility for wellness check-ups, emergency services, ongoing health treatments, and preventive treatments for dogs and cats. Contact our team for veterinary care in Massachusetts by calling 508-996-3731.