Pet Flea and Tick Prevention in Roseville, MN

An almost inescapable part of being a pet owner is the danger of fleas and ticks. The best way to prevent flea and tick infestation is through our pet flea and tick prevention in Roseville, MN. Our veterinarians can review the options for flea and tick prevention and determine the best and most efficacious product for your pet.

Fleas and ticks aren’t just a constant irritant; they’re dangerous for both humans and pets. These creatures carry diseases that are detrimental to your dog or cat’s health and yours as well. When they’re done with your pet, they may hop off and start biting you, and their fast reproduction means you could quickly have an infestation on your hands. Investing in our flea and tick prevention service protects you from invasions and your pet from health issues like:

Tapeworms
Excessive Itching
Hair Loss

Hot Spots
Allergic Dermatitis

Infectious diseases such as Lyme, Erlichia, Anaplasma, and Bartonella

Why Our Expertise Is Imperative for Flea Prevention

Indoor only cats may also become infected with parasites and even suburban or urban dwelling dogs are at risk too. Fleas and ticks can get into your house from outside simply by clinging to your shoe or pant leg, and they’re so tiny you likely won’t see them. Medications to treat and/or prevent some parasites available over the counter may not be appropriate for your pet and in some cases may cause adverse effects.

An appointment with us means you get exactly the prevention strategy your pet needs. We come up with a plan that’s tailored to your lifestyle and your pet’s demographic. This makes the treatment more likely to succeed and saves you the frustration of trial and error. You don’t want to take chances when it comes to your dog or cat’s comfort and happiness.

Heartworms

Heartworms are a type of parasite transmitted from one dog to the next via a mosquito host. These heartworm microfilariae that are carried by mosquitos enter the bloodstream of an unprotected dog and develop into adulthood within 6 months to block the arteries in your dog’s heart, and if untreated, eventually cause fatality. However, an easy way to prevent this heartworm infection is by giving your dog a year-round heartworm preventative along with testing for heartworm on an annual basis according to the American Heartworm Society’s (AHS) recommendations.

We offer two easy ways to give your dog yearly heartworm prevention at our clinic. The first preventative option is Heartgard which is a monthly-given treat that interrupts the heartworm lifecycle in the larvae stage to prevent them from reaching adulthood if given consistently, at the same time every month. The second preventative option we offer is Proheart 12 which is a heartworm-preventative injection given once a year to block heartworm infections. Proheart 12 works in a similar manner to Heartgard in that it interrupts the heartworm’s lifecycle in the larve stage before it reaches adulthood. However, the key difference is that Proheart 12 uses time-released microspheres to deliver the active ingredient throughout the year without needing to give a monthly chew and provides continuous, uninterrupted protection.

In addition to protection from heartworms, these products also offer protection and guarantees from intestinal parasites, hookworm and roundworm for Heartgard and hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm, and whipworms for Proheart 12.

Flea and Tick:

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that can carry and transmit infectious diseases to your pet. Both cats and dogs are susceptible to these pests both indoors and outdoors and are therefore susceptible to the diseases they carry. Diseases and infections like tapeworms, Lyme disease, Tularemia, and Anaplasmosis are just some of the possible transmissions through fleas and ticks. And, contrary to popular belief, fleas aren’t only prevalent in outdoor, woodsy environments. These parasites are commonly seen in leaf piles, tall grass, under decks, and close to fences. So, even if your cat or dog doesn’t venture past your backyard, they are still at risk of fleas and ticks and the diseases they carry. One of the best ways to protect your furry companion is through flea and tick preventatives. These work and are given on a monthly basis to prevent the transmission of flea and tick-borne diseases. Two preventatives we offer for this are Nexgard for dogs and Nexgard Combo for cats.

Nexgard (Dogs): A once-a-month treat given to kill existing and new flea and tick infections before they can lay eggs. Nexgard works through the bloodstream with the active ingredient, afoxolaner to kill these parasites at first bite.

Nexgard Combo (Cats): A once-a-month topical application that kills and protects against fleas, ticks, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Nexgard Combo is applied to the nape of the neck with a pre-dosed syringe applicator to topically prevent worms and parasites in kittens and cats.

Cold Enough For Ya?:

Despite popular beliefs, ticks are active even in the cold weather months. Anytime it reaches above-freezing temperatures (>32 degrees Fahrenheit), ticks are willing and able to latch onto a host even through snowy conditions. During those days that reach above-freezing temperatures, your pet is at risk of being infected by ticks on walks or even in your own backyard. The below chart illustrates the high temperatures in Minneapolis over the winter months of 2022-2023. The red numbers are days that ticks were out and ready to find a host. This data is just one of the reasons why we recommend a year-round flea and tick preventative for your pet even in the colder months.

Tick Calendar