Flea and Tick Treatment and Prevention with Your Troutdale Veterinarian

Fleas and ticks may be relatively tiny creatures, but the potential problems they can cause for your dog or cat are anything but small. These blood-sucking parasites damage the skin, cause agonizing irritations, and can spread serious diseases to your constant companion. The good news is that you can protect your pet through the flea and tick treatment and prevention options available at our animal hospital, Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center.

How Fleas and Ticks Can Threaten Your Dog or Cat

The most well-known sign of a flea or tick infestation is an animal's obsessive scratching at the bites -- and there's a good reason for this behavior. Flea and tick bites can cause allergic reactions, rushing histamines to the puncture wounds left by these creatures. As your cat or dog scratches, the skin becomes more and more inflamed until a wound forms, presenting a doorway to bacterial infections that make your pet's misery even worse.

But discomfort and even infection aren't the limit of the threats posed by fleas and ticks. Fleas are notorious carriers of diseases such as plague, cat scratch disease and hemobartonella; they can also transfer tapeworms to your pet's bloodstream. Ticks are perhaps best known for transmitting Lyme disease, but they can also infect your pet with ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and canine anaplasmosis. Last but not least, the sheer loss of blood caused by a major flea infestation can put small or weak pets at risk for life-threatening anemia and even death.

Tick and Flea Treatment Options for Gresham and Troutdale Animals

If you're worried about the effects of fleas and ticks on your Gresham or Troutdale pet, bring him to Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center. Any Troutdale veterinarian on our team will be happy to check for signs of pest infestation, prescribing the appropriate tick or flea treatment to rid your pet of these unwanted guests. Medicated baths and other topical products can eliminate the infestation while also soothing and treating skin irritations.

Prevention is by far the easiest way to deal with fleas and ticks. Our animal hospital can put your dog or cat on a regular routine of preventative medications in the form of topical treatments or oral drugs. Flea and tick collars can provide long-lasting protection for pets who don’t experience allergic reactions to such products. Your pet may need a combination of preventative medications to ensure full protection against both fleas and ticks. Vacuuming your home frequently (and constantly changing the vacuum bag) or getting rid of tall grass and leaf piles in the yard can also lessen the presence of fleas and ticks in your household.

Talk to Your Troutdale Veterinarian at Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center

If your pet has a pest problem, Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center has the answers. Call 503-661-1833 for an appointment with your Troutdale veterinarian!