What’s The Fuss About Preventatives?

Preventative products play a large role in keeping our pets healthy. The most common ones are the flea/tick and heartworm preventatives.

Fleas.

These little creature are made of concentrated evil if you ask anyone who has ever had an infestation. Once they are in your house it can take 3 to 6 months (yes, MONTHS) to get rid of them. Year round treatment of your dogs and cats is a simple way to make sure you never have to put up with this. In addition, your pets will live you because they won’t be covered in these itchy little bloodsuckers!

For Dogs

Frontline: a topical product that goes on every 30 days to prevent fleas and ticks.
Nexgard: an oral chewable given every 30 days for flea and tick prevention. This is ideal for dogs with sensitive skin, who swim or are bathed regularly, and or for people who don’t want to be separated from their pet while the topical dries.

For Cats

Frontline for Cats: a topical that goes on every 30 days to prevent fleas and ticks.
Feline Revolution: a topical that prevents fleas and heartworm disease, as well as deworming (hook and roundworms) and treating ear mites.

Heartworm disease.

This is one of those situations where an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Even in our area of Virginia, heartworm is present. Once a dog is infected, only a series of injections containing an arsenic based compound can save them. Treatment is painful and risky. For our feline friends things are even worse, as there is no good method for testing and the first “sign” there is a problem is frequently sudden death! Monthly heartworm prevention makes sure that your pet is never at risk. (Dogs over 6 months of age must be tested prior to starting a preventative. Testing on cats is not required.)

For Dogs

Heartgard Plus: a monthly chewable that also serves as a dewormer (hook and roundworms).
ProHeart: an injectable that protects for 6 months. Ideal for dogs with food allergies or who don’t like the chewable.

For Cats

Feline Revolution
At Ridgewood Animal Hospital, it is our mission to keep you informed and provide the very best care for your pets. Give us a call or stop by so we can discuss which preventatives are right for you and your pet!