Fleas, Ticks, Worms: Parasite Prevention

In this series of posts, we’ll also discuss vaccinations, neutering, nutrition, wellness screening, and dental care. All key components to your dog’s health.

Common Canine Parasites

1. Gastrointestinal parasites can cause everything from poor haircoat to weight loss, anemia, gastrointestinal upset and then respiratory problems.
2. Heartworms can even invade the heart and cause vascular inflammation, heart failure, and even death.
3. Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that can transmit diseases such as Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis.
4. Fleas can spread to people but also can carry larvae that develop into tapeworms if your dog grooms and ingests them.
5. Biting flies can be very irritating and cause problems like Pinkeye and maggot infestation.

We have a wide variety of parasiticides compared to years ago. They are safe and effective, if prescribed though your pup’s veterinarian. It’s so much easier to prevent parasites than to treat them.

Our Recommended Parasite Prevention and Deworming Protocol

General routine screening and deworming for common parasites is recommended. We base our City Dog protocol on guidelines put in place by the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, and the Companion Animal Parasite Council.

Depending on your pup’s age, health conditions, lifestyle, and your own preferences, we will help you select the best preventative. In general, we offer the following at City Dog:

1. Proheart – Moxidectin. Offers 6 or 12 month protection against heartworm with one injection. For dogs one year of age or older.
2. Capstar – Nitenpyren. An oral medication to quickly kill fleas in dogs older than 4 weeks and weighing more than two pounds. Does not offer long term protection.
3. Simparica – Solaner/moxidectin/pyrantel: An oral medication given once per month to treat and prevent heartworm fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms
4. Interceptor Plus – Milbenycin/praziquantel: An oral medication, given one per 6 months to prevent heartworm, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
5. Vectra 3D – Dinotefuran/pyriproxifen/permethrin. A topical medication applied once a month to kill and repel fleas, ticks, lice, mites, mosquitos and biting flies
6. NexGuard – Afoxolaner: An oral medication given once per month that kills and prevents fleas and ticks

Testing for Parasites and Infection

1. Fecal exams: Intestinal parasite analysis is recommend at least once per year regardless of lifestyle and preventatives. Atypical parasites can be detected such as tapeworms, coccidia, or giardia that require specific treatments.
2. Heartworm testing: Testing before staring heartworm prevention is important, especially if your dog’s background is uncertain. All dogs should be tested once they reach 6 months.
3. Tick-borne disease screening: The in-clinic test for heartworm, called the “4DX” also tests for common diseases caused by ticks: Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma.