When you have a pet, you are responsible for keeping them as healthy as possible. Part of that is to keep them free from fleas and ticks, ensuring they stay that way. When you need a pet exam and prevention medication, call Clanton-Malphus-Hodges Veterinary Hospital in Thomasville, GA, for a pet exam. Read below for more information about pet vaccinations and the prevention of pests.
Common Bites
When you have pets who get bitten by fleas and ticks, it can cause many problems for your pet. The bites can irritate the skin and cause itching and other issues. When a tick bites a pet, they clamp down on the pet's skin and can cause a lot of irritation and inflammation. These bites may even get infected. When a flea bites a pet, it often causes them to have dermatitis. This allergic reaction in the skin causes itchiness and irritation. As pets scratch these bites, they can get further irritated and effectively break the skin barrier. In addition to the problems caused, they can develop several serious diseases from those insects.
Serious Diseases from Parasites
Flea and tick bites can spread several types of bacteria into the wound and cause other medical problems. Swallowed fleas can spread tapeworms to a pet, and flea bites can cause anemia. There are also more severe infections that pets can catch from these insects, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, cat scratch fever, murine typhus, and Lyme disease. There are diseases that they can acquire from fleas and ticks, which cause serious medical problems and even death.
Treatment
Parasites like ticks and fleas can cause many medical problems for pets, so they must be kept at bay. First, your pet must engage in flea and tick removal if it has parasites. This removal can be done manually or with several shampoos and sprays. Once that's done, the pet must be on pest-prevention medication. This medication can keep these parasites off your pet in the foreseeable future.
Get Your Pet's Exam at Clanton-Malphus-Hodges Veterinary Hospital
Your pet must see the veterinarian when you need flea and tick removal or preventative medication. To be seen at our animal hospital, call our Thomasville, GA, office at (229) 226-1914 to have your pet examined by the veterinarian. Remember to speak with our veterinarian about any further concerns you may have.
