The "Dreadful" Parasites

At Newaygo Veterinary Services, we believe prevention is the best medicine, which is why we encourage year-round heartworm, flea and tick prevention.

Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease occurs when an infected mosquito transfers larvae into its host while taking a blood meal.  The larvae can migrate through tissue, mature and take up residence in the pulmonary arteries.  Initially, there are no signs of disease, but your pet may begin to develop a persistent cough and show a decrease in activity level.  When left untreated, heartworm disease can result in heart failure, lung disease and even sudden death. 

But, there is good news!  YOU can easily help protect your pet from this awful parasite!  By administering a monthly heartworm preventative, such as Interceptor Plus, and annually screening for heartworm disease, you can help your pet live a long, HEALTHY and happy life.
For more information, please visit: www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Heartworm-Disease.aspx; or www.cdc.gov/parasites/dirofilariasis/biology_d_immitis.html.

Fleas

Fleas are pesky little creatures!  If you've ever experienced an outbreak, you know just how difficult it can be to eradicate them. 
  • Adult fleas typically represent only about 10% of the population and it takes quite a few fleas to be present before you start finding them on your pet.  Adult fleas must remain on their food source in order to survive, which is why Fluffy and Fido are so miserable with every flea bite they get - some pets are actually allergic to flea bites - which increases their discomfort.  As they continue to feed, they can create a low red blood cell count in your pet and they can carry some nasty diseases.  The best treatment for adult fleas is a veterinary approved oral or topical medication.
  • ​From adult fleas come eggs.  Adult female fleas can lay up to 40 eggs daily and these eggs can hatch within 10 days.
  • Once hatched, larvae are present in the environment.  These tiny caterpillar-like creatures can travel up to 18 inches in the carpet and often burrow deeply, away from light sources.  Eggs and larva can be eliminated with environmental spray treatments.
  • Larvae eventually transition into the pupae phase, in which it slowly morphs into another adult flea.  Pupae are virtually indestructible.  They will not hatch until heat, vibrations and carbon dioxide levels are most favorable.  Furthermore, pupae are highly resistant to extremely cold and dry conditions.  At this stage, even environmental treatments are inadequate.
​With all this in mind, it can take up to 3 months of consistent treatment for ALL pets in your home to manage an outbreak.  Furthermore, the easiest way to manage fleas is to completely prevent them by administering a Bravecto chew every 3 months OR applying Frontline Gold topically every month, year round.
    For more information, please visit: www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/externalparasites.aspx; or www.cdc.gov/dpdx/fleas/index.html.

    Ticks

    Michigan is home to a wide variety of tick species, and many of them can transmit harmful diseases to humans and our beloved pets.  An average lifespan for a tick is 2-4 years.  In that time, females can lay thousands of eggs.  In addition to Lyme Disease, varieties of ticks can transmit numerous diseases, which can present critical health complications.  Fortunately, there are several things you can do to protect your pet and your family. 
    • First, our heartworm combo test allows us to screen for several tickborne diseases, such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis - all of which, if caught and treated early can have a relatively good recovery.
    • Deer ticks and black-legged ticks are most known for transmitting Lyme disease, which can affect the joints and kidneys of our pets, and can infect people too.  We can help protect your pet from this painful disease by administering the Lyme vaccine.
    • The next layer of prevention we can offer our pets is a monthly tick preventative, such as Frontline Gold or Bravecto.  When a tick is feeding, Frontline Gold is capable of killing it in as few as 30 minutes.  Tick preventatives are capable of eradicating a tick before it is able to fully engorge.
    ​Remember, check yourself and your pet frequently for ticks.  Also, keep in mind, ticks are quite persistent in spite of extreme weather conditions, including cold.  Most new tick infestations actually start in the winter.  As always, prevention is your best option.
    For more information, please visit: www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/lyme-disease.aspx; or www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html.

    Intestinal Parasites

    There are several intestinal parasites commonly found in our pets.  Hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms are the most frequent intruders of our pets digestive tract.  Most often, there are no overt symptoms seen in the host, but these parasites can cause poor health when left untreated.  Besides diarrhea and pot- bellied appearance, pets can also experience failure to thrive, weight loss and dehydration.  In more serious cases, these parasites can often travel to other body tissues including the lungs and the brain.  Also concerning, is the fact that some of these parasites are zoonotic, meaning humans are susceptible to them as well.
    • Intestinal parasite infestations occur either by ingestion of parasite eggs, ingestion of rodent or flea hosts, or through direct contact with parasite larvae in a contaminated environment.  Furthermore, hookworm and roundworm infestations commonly occur through mother's milk or through the placenta during pregnancy. 
    • When there is a tapeworm infestation, we are able to diagnose it with the naked eye.  The tapeworm is made up of many segments, called proglottids.  These rice-like segments are shed when your pet defecates.  Tapeworm infestations are initiated when your pet eats a carrier host, such a fleas or small rodents.
    • ​Diagnosing intestinal parasites is relatively simple and we recommend screening for them annually, or any time your pet is showing signs of intestinal discomfort.  For screening, we examine your pet's fecal sample, in search of the microscopic ova produced by intestinal parasites. 
    Treatment can be in the form of a monthly preventative, such as Interceptor, or a parasite-specific dewormer.  Also, regularly cleaning up piles in the yard or emptying the litterbox is a good way to prevent the continued transmission of these parasites.  And, as always, wash your hands thoroughly to protect yourself from these creepy crawlies!!
    For more information, please visit: www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/parasites/parasites/; or www.cdc.gov/parasites/animals.html.

    We can help!

    If you are plagued by a flea infestation or you have had recent encounters with ticks or are curious about intestinal parasites, we are happy to help!  Call us today 2316521681.