Pet Flea & Tick Prevention in St. Paul, MN

Do you have unseen invaders in your home? Your pet could be shuttling in hundreds of blood-sucking parasites right underneath your nose. Not only are these menaces a danger to your pet, but they are also a danger to your entire family via the spread of infectious diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Bartonella. Worst of all, once fleas get a foothold in your home, it takes a lot of work to get them out. That is why you should prevent any battle before it starts by bringing your furry little friends to us for pet flea and tick prevention in St. Paul, MN.

Cat, Dog in St. Paul, MN

Flea Prevention Is Vital for Your Well Being

Of course, there are many more common diseases that are also spread by blood contamination. When fleas attach to your pet, they spread whatever blood-related diseases they may have previously encountered. Worst of all, fleas will get on humans as well and spread the same disease. The best course of action is to visit us periodically for thorough flea prevention.

Prevent Tick Infestations before They Start

Lyme disease is very common. In fact, there are more than 200,000 cases of Lyme disease in the US per year, and many patients never fully recover even with treatment. Ticks wait in tall grass and on bushes for your pet to walk by and bring into your home. With proper tick prevention, your pets will be less likely to develop an infection.

Heartworms

Heartworms are a type of parasite transmitted from one dog to the next via a mosquito host. These heartworm microfilariae that are carried by mosquitos enter the bloodstream of an unprotected dog and develop into adulthood within 6 months to block the arteries in your dog’s heart, and if untreated, eventually cause fatality. However, an easy way to prevent this heartworm infection is by giving your dog a year-round heartworm preventative along with testing for heartworm on an annual basis according to the American Heartworm Society’s (AHS) recommendations.

The good news is that we offer an easy way to give your dog yearly heartworm prevention at our clinic. This option is Heartgard which is a monthly-given treat that interrupts the heartworm lifecycle in the larvae stage to prevent them from reaching adulthood.

In addition to protection from heartworms, Heartgard also offers protection and guarantees from the intestinal parasites hookworm and roundworm.

Flea and Tick:

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that can carry and transmit infectious diseases to your pet. Both cats and dogs are susceptible to these pests both indoors and outdoors and are therefore susceptible to the diseases they carry. Diseases and infections like tapeworms, Lyme disease, Tularemia, and Anaplasmosis are just some of the possible transmissions through fleas and ticks. And, contrary to popular belief, fleas aren’t only prevalent in outdoor, woodsy environments. These parasites are commonly seen in leaf piles, tall grass, under decks, and close to fences. So, even if your cat or dog doesn’t venture past your backyard, they are still at risk of fleas and ticks and the diseases they carry. One of the best ways to protect your furry companion is through flea and tick preventatives. These work and are given on a monthly basis to prevent the transmission of flea and tick-borne diseases. Two preventatives we offer for this are Nexgard for dogs and Nexgard Combo for cats.

Nexgard (Dogs): A once-a-month treat given to kill existing and new flea and tick infections before they can lay eggs. Nexgard works through the bloodstream with the active ingredient, afoxolaner to kill these parasites at first bite.

Nexgard Combo (Cats): A once-a-month topical application that kills and protects against fleas, ticks, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Nexgard Combo is applied to the nape of the neck with a pre-dosed syringe applicator to topically prevent worms and parasites in kittens and cats.

Cold Enough For Ya?:

A close-up of a card Despite popular beliefs, ticks are active even in the cold weather months. Anytime it reaches above-freezing temperatures (>32 degrees Fahrenheit), ticks are willing and able to latch onto a host even through snowy conditions. During those days that reach above-freezing temperatures, your pet is at risk of being infected by ticks on walks or even in your own backyard. The below chart illustrates the high temperatures in Minneapolis over the winter months of 2022-2023. The red numbers are days that ticks were out and ready to find a host. This data is just one of the reasons why we recommend a year-round flea and tick preventative for your pet even in the colder months

Tick Calendar

Contact us to start a flea and tick prevention program. We proudly serve pet owners in St. Paul, MN.

Schedule an Appointment for Flea & Tick Prevention

Your pets are members of your family, which means that you should do your best to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. We never forget how much love you have for your furry loved ones, which is why we are always compassionate and caring. Schedule an appointment with our clinic today, and let us keep your pets safe all year long.