Essential Part of Pet Care
While younger animals are more likely to be infected by parasites, they can be problematic for pets of all ages. Therefore, your pets should be screened for parasites by a vet at least once yearly. Some parasites we filter for are as follows.
Intestinal Parasites
Spending time outside can be fun for pets, but it can also put your animal at risk for intestinal parasite infection, mainly if they eat something they find outdoors. We can screen for these parasites with a fecal exam, providing your pets with treatment if needed.
Heartworm Disease
Heartworms are internal parasites that make their home in an animal’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels. These parasites can lead to heart or lung and potentially be fatal. In addition, heartworm larvae can enter your pets’ bodies via mosquito bites, which means you may not realize your pets have been infected until they show severe symptoms.
Dogs are more susceptible to heartworm infection, so your puppy must receive annual heartworm screenings. However, other animals, like cats, can also be infected by heartworm. Therefore, a vet may recommend screening for your pets if they show symptoms of heartworm infection.
Tick-Borne Diseases
Ticks can cause diseases in humans and put pets at risk. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis are all tick-borne diseases that can cause serious health problems in pets. We look for signs of these diseases when we screen your pets for heartworm at our animal hospital,
Protect Your Pet with Vaccinations
While parasite screening can help treat infected pets, prevention is the best medicine. Vaccinations like heartworm shots can help protect your pets from potentially deadly parasites. Many puppies and kittens are vaccinated, but vaccination can also benefit adult pets.
Vaccines can help prevent diseases in pets, reducing the risk of serious illness. So while our animal hospital is here to treat your pets if parasites infect them, we will do our best to keep them from getting infected.
Make an Appointment with a Veterinarian in Willow Glen
As pet owners, we know you want to do everything you can to keep your pets healthy. Pet care, like vaccinations and parasite screenings, like a fecal exam, can help prevent illnesses and detect and treat infections early on. So make an appointment for your pets at Willow Glen Pet Hospital in San Jose, CA, by calling (669) 342-7472.