Wellness & Preventative Care

Parasites such as fleas and ticks can be very damaging to your pet’s health. Preventive measures should be taken year-round to inhibit potential outbreaks.

The idea of your pet being infested with parasites is a disturbing thought, but it’s also a medical issue that can have serious consequences. Parasites can diminish the quality of life and even cause life-threatening health issues.

Common internal parasites include heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. The most frequent external parasites include fleas and ticks. Your pet should be free from parasites, both internal and external.

Why are parasites dangerous?

Fleas

Fleas are small, wingless, brown, fast-moving insects you can see in your pet’s fur. Some animals are allergic to the saliva of fleas, which can cause inflammation and more discomfort. If ingested while your pet is grooming themselves, fleas can transmit an intestinal parasite called tapeworm. Flea infestations can lead to anemia, and fleas are also capable of transmitting serious diseases.

Ticks

Ticks are members of the spider family and live in cracks and crevices in the home or outside in vegetation such as grassy meadows, woods, brush, and weeds. Some tick bites only cause mild irritation or swelling at the site, but other tick bites can infect your pet with serious illnesses. If left untreated, these diseases can lead to more severe health problems or even be fatal.

Heartworm Disease

Heartworms are transmitted when an infected mosquito bites your pet. Heartworms are parasites that live in the heart and its surrounding blood vessels. The adult heartworm produces offspring called microfilariae, which circulate in the pet’s blood. Unrecognized and untreated heartworm infections permanently damage the heart, and can be rapidly fatal.

When should I seek treatment for parasites?

Fleas

If your pet is showing signs of fleas such as continuous scratching, gnawing, or licking, schedule an appointment immediately. Additionally, flea dirt, the byproduct of fleas that looks like coffee grounds or pepper, can usually be seen by looking at your pet’s abdomen or by combing your pet’s coat with a fine-tooth comb.

Ticks

Ticks are most common in the spring through the fall, but can live in your home or on your pet year round. Ticks and tick-borne illnesses are especially common in northern Arkansas. If you see ticks on your pet, ask us about preventative medications for ticks and screening tests for tick-borne diseases.

Heartworm Disease

The best treatment for heartworms is prevention. One of the most common and effective prevention methods is a monthly oral medication.

The parasite is transmitted through mosquito bites, and usually, the pet shows no signs for months. Later symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss, tiring easily, and listlessness. In many cases, pets do not show outward signs until advanced stages of the disease. An annual blood test is recommended to screen for heartworms. This disease can be treated if found early, but is expensive and the heart will be left permanently damaged.

It is hard to stress the importance of heartworm prevention, especially in our area where heartworm disease is very common. We offer multiple different preventative medications that can fit your needs.

How can I prevent parasites?

Our veterinary team is happy to help you choose the correct preventive regimen based on your pet’s risk factors and health status. It is important to discuss with us yearly which pest control products are ideal for your household based on the everyday life of your pet.

Preventive care is an important aspect of maintaining your pet’s health. Proper vaccination is vital in protecting them against harmful diseases.

There are a variety of diseases that affect animals, so proper vaccination of your pet is vital in protecting them from the many types of illnesses to which they are susceptible.

Why are vaccinations important?

Vaccinations are vital to the health and protection of your pet and serve as a preventive measure in combating viral diseases like parvovirus, parainfluenza virus, distemper, panleukopenia, feline leukemia virus, and rabies.

When should my pet get vaccinated?

Vaccinations are particularly important for puppies, kittens, and other young animals that have immature immune systems.  We recommend vaccinations begin at 8 weeks of age and are repeated throughout your pet’s life, depending on the vaccine. Our doctor will determine the appropriate vaccination plan for your pet.

Making sure your new puppy or kitten is fully vaccinated is the best investment you can make in your pet's health. 

We recommend all pediatric clients receive at least three rounds of vaccines, beginning at 8 weeks of age, with each vaccine spaced 3 weeks apart. The final booster vaccine should be given at 16 weeks or older, for maximum effectiveness. 

Rabies vaccination is required by law for every pet in the state of Arkansas and we offer an affordable, safe, and effective vaccine to meet your needs.

Microchip identification is the most reliable way to reunite lost pets with their owners.

Microchip identification helps return an estimated 8,000 lost cats, dogs, and other animals to their homes every day. Pet ID chips are the most reliable way to reunite pets with their owners and provide peace of mind.

Why should I microchip my pet?

Microchip identification is the most reliable way to find lost pets and return them home with their owners. The procedure is safe, easy, and inexpensive.

When should I microchip my pet?

Some owners feel that their pet doesn’t need identification because they stay indoors, but in our experience, these are the most likely to become lost when they accidentally get outside. As separation from your cat or dog can happen all too easily, permanent identification by microchipping is critical. Every pet should have microchip identification as the procedure can be done at any age.

How does microchipping work?

The small microchip (the size of a grain of rice) is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades of your pet in a relatively harmless veterinary procedure. The chip is permanent, lasting the whole life of the pet. Your information has to be registered with your bar code number so that you can be contacted if your pet ever becomes lost.

If a pet is found, animal care facilities (shelters, hospitals, etc.) can scan the pet for a microchip using a special microchip reader that is simply waved over the skin. Once a microchip is found, a special hotline is called, and the lost pet is reported. The pet owner is then called immediately and given the contact information about where to pick up their pet.