Parasite Season is HERE!

Parasite Season is HERE!
The warm weather is finally here! It’s a wonderful time of year for everyone, including PARASITES!
Each and every spring those annoying pests return to Southern Ontario and cause all kinds of problems for people and animals alike. Since pet infestations can be passed on to humans, prevention is important for the whole family.
With the amount of climate change over the last few years, we are experiencing an increase in heartworm positive and Lyme disease in dogs in Ontario. Between 2002 and 2015 there was an 80% increase in reported heartworm positive dogs in this province alone. Heartworm is transmitted through a bite of an infected mosquito. There’s no way to tell if a mosquito is infected, that’s why prevention is so important. Ticks wait for host animals on the tips of grasses and shrubs. When brushed by a moving animal or person, they quickly let go of the vegetation and climb onto the host. Ticks can be active on winter days with temperatures of only 4 degrees Celsius!
We recommend that dogs are tested for heartworm and tick-borne diseases every April/May and be put on a parasite prevention from June to November. It’s important to note that even indoor cats need parasite prevention since there are many ways parasites can enter your home, such as via insects and other animals.
As our pets are unable to talk like you and I, it’s important to know what’s going on inside before it becomes a serious health concern. Pets age more rapidly than humans, meaning disease can occur rapidly. In fact 10% of pets that appear healthy to owners have been found to have an underlying condition. Since the parasite test requires a blood sample, we can use the same blood sample to test for common conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, and kidney failure. Testing this way is cheaper and less stressful for our pets. For information on parasites, and discounted wellness blood work, please contact us at Dufferin-Steeles Animal Hospital. 905-532-0043
 
Hope you and your pets enjoy the wonderful spring weather we are finally seeing!