Look out for the bugs!

Help protect your pets from the dangers of parasites

Fleas are often difficult to spot and can cause diseases or allergic reactions in your dog or cat, even if you don’t see them.

Signs that your pet may be infested with fleas include:

• Itching

• Scratching

• Chewing

• All especially around the tail and rump

Ticks are also an itchy nuisance. Worse, they can latch onto pets as they pass through grass or wooded areas and transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Tick-bite Paralysis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Ehrlichiosis.

To help protect  your pet from fleas and ticks, the Humane Society of Kent County offers a topical flea and tick preventative called Frontline Plus which is applied monthly to the skin and, once absorbed, is secreted from oil glands. If your pet has fleas, Frontline Plus can also be used to treat the infestation.

If your pet does have fleas or ticks make sure to:

• Vacuum all carpeted surfaces frequently
• Clean your pet's bedding regularly
• Spray surfaces with Frontline Plus spray 

But…it’s not just the fleas and ticks that can be harmful to your pet! Springtime also means that mosquitoes are out, and they can transmit heartworm disease from animal to animal. As heartworms grow they can lodge in the heart of important blood vessels causing serious heart and lung diseases. 

The Humane Society of Kent County offers Interceptor, a monthly heartworm preventative that is given by mouth. Interceptor medication also controls roundworms, hookworms and whipworms in dogs.

For more information on parasite prevention medication offered at the Humane Society of Kent County, call  616-453-8900