Protecting your Pets against Heartworms, Fleas and Ticks

WRITTEN BY DR. JEN BROGLE, Park West Veterinary Associates

Do you know the true value of giving your pet that tasty “heartworm” treat each month, or why it’s especially important being a resident of South Carolina’s picturesque Lowcountry? By giving your pet a preventative, you are mitigating the risk of infectious diseases like heartworms, fleas, ticks and common intestinal parasites. As a primary care veterinarian, one of my number one goals is to educate pet owners on ways to keep their pet healthy and happy, so here is the “why”.

Did you know that dogs, cats and ferrets get heartworm disease from mosquitos? First, a mosquito bites an infected animal (dog, cat, coyote, fox), then transfers the heartworm larvae by biting another animal. Once the larvae has been passed to that animal, the only way to eliminate the larval (early) stage is with preventative medication. If your pet is not on prevention and is bitten by an infected mosquito, then the larvae will mature into adult heartworms over the course of 6-7 months. Adult heartworms are about a foot long and live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels. Heartworms cause serious long-term damage to the heart, lungs and other organs and can be fatal in some cases. Once pets are infected with adult heartworms, they can only be killed with a more aggressive, costly and time-consuming treatment under supervision by your veterinarian.

You might be thinking “so, do I really need to give my pet this heartworm medication”? In 2022, the American Heartworm Society reported that the Lowcountry had one of the highest cases of heartworm disease, totaling greater than 100 cases per clinic. This should not come as too big of a surprise because there is a vast amount of standing water and warm-humid weather that is a breeding ground for mosquitos. Even with outdoor treatment of yards, it is difficult to guarantee your pet will not be bitten by a mosquito and we have no way to control our wildlife population serving as carriers.

The beautiful climate of the Lowcountry has become a popular spot for many to migrate over the last decade, but the people are not the only ones appreciating the weather. Fleas and ticks are a year-round problem in South Carolina and can cause a problem for your pet or household fast!

Thinking about fleas always makes me itch!

Once fleas are found on your pet they will start reproducing quickly. When they bite your pet, the saliva causes an allergic reaction. The itch from flea bites can be severe causing inflammation, hair loss and infection. Persistent flea infection can lead to anemia and other diseases. When infected pets groom themselves, they ingest “flea dirt” that causes tapeworms. Once a pet brings fleas into the home, getting rid of these environmental pests can be time consuming and expensive.

There are many species of ticks living in South Carolina. These ticks can transmit a number of infectious diseases including Lyme and Ehrlichia, which can lead to fever, swollen joints, arthritis, anemia, bleeding disorders and kidney disease.

It is important to remember that many of these ticks can also cause disease in humans, so by protecting your pets you are lessening the risk to yourself and your family.

Now let’s get back to that “tasty heartworm” treat each month! There are many options for prevention against heartworms, fleas and ticks. There are various oral, topical and injectable medications. Some preventative medications, like Simparica Trio, Nexgard Plus and Revolution Plus, even include coverage against all three; heartworms, fleas and ticks. If your pet has a food allergy or is not good about taking oral medication, consider an injection called Proheart12 for 12-month heartworm protection. There is certainly a preventative medication that is right for your pet, so be sure to talk with your veterinarian about your options. Remember, these parasites love the Lowcountry climate as much as we do, so if you are outside enjoying that February day, they are too! ■

References:

The American Heartworm Society: https://www. heartwormsociety.org/ Companion Animal Parasite Council: https://capcvet. org/ knows your pet like you do.