Small Animal
Parasite Control
At Potlatch Veterinary Clinic, we provide comprehensive pet parasite control in Potlatch, ID, to prevent and treat infestations from a wide range of pests.
Understanding Common Pet Parasites
Parasites are organisms that live on or within a host, often causing harm in the process. Common parasites that affect pets include fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms. Each of these parasites can lead to different health concerns. Fleas and ticks, for example, are common external parasites that can cause skin irritations, allergies, and in some cases, transmit diseases. Heartworms and intestinal worms are internal parasites that may lead to severe, even life-threatening, complications if not addressed early.
Potlatch Veterinary Clinic offers parasite control solutions that address both prevention and treatment, ensuring that your pet stays protected year-round. By understanding the risks that parasites present and implementing regular preventive measures, pet owners can help reduce the likelihood of infestations and the health risks they bring.
Benefits of Pet Parasite Control
Pet parasite control in Potlatch, ID, helps prevent a variety of health issues. Parasites like fleas and ticks are not only irritating but can transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Heartworms, carried by mosquitoes, pose a significant threat to a pet’s heart and lungs. Left untreated, heartworm disease can be fatal, especially for dogs. Parasite control also addresses intestinal parasites, which can cause digestive issues, weight loss, and in some cases, anemia or severe infection.
Regular parasite prevention is a cost-effective way to protect your pet’s health, helping to avoid the expenses and stress associated with treating advanced infestations. In addition to health benefits, parasite control contributes to the overall comfort of your pet, reducing the itching, scratching, and irritation that parasites often cause. Our team at Potlatch Veterinary Clinic provides customized parasite control plans that account for your pet’s lifestyle, health status, and individual risks.
Small Animal Parasite Control FAQs
Are parasites a “big deal”?
Parasites can cause many problems for an animal and their owner. Internal gastrointestinal worms can disrupt an animal’s ability to properly digest their food and put on weight or absorb critical nutrition. Internal blockages can also occur which can lead to death of the animal. External parasites can lead to skin infections and loss of condition. In addition, zoonotic parasites can transmit to humans and pose health risks for you and your family as well.
How do you check to see if my animal has parasites?
External parasites such as ticks and fleas may be found with an examination. Others, such as mites, may be identified with a skin scraping and microscope exam. For internal parasites such as GI worms or heartworm, we can screen for many of these either with an in-house blood test or an in-house fecal analysis. For some parasites, we may send off a sample to one of the reference laboratories we work with that can perform even more refined screening.
What are “Zoonotic” parasites?
Zoonotic parasites are specific organisms that can pass from an animal to a human. Our pets and livestock are common carriers of these pests. Common examples include tape and round worms, fleas, ringworm, ticks and giardia!
How do you treat for parasites?
Depending on the species of the animal and the parasites being targeted, there are a variety of options available to owners. A discussion with our medical staff at Potlatch Veterinary Clinic can help you feel confident about what options would work best for your situation.