Parasite Prevention
Learn more about our parasite prevention services below.
Parasite Prevention in Denver, CO
Parasites are more than just a nuisance, they can cause serious, sometimes fatal, illness in your cat and also affect your family’s quality of life.
Parasite Prevention
Parasite & Heartworm Prevention and Treatment for Cats
Annual cat wellness exams help us assess your cat’s health status and establish baseline assessments for future use when your cat becomes ill. More often than not, your cat may not even present any signs of illness.
Controlling fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other dangerous parasites is a challenge, but with good prevention, you can keep your cat safe and comfortable.
Most Common Parasites in Cats:
Heartworms – A completely preventable disease. Like their name says, these worms live in the heart, lungs and associated surrounding tissues. Heartworms look like strands of cooked spaghetti and can get up to 12 inches long. Animals get heartworm from infected mosquitoes. The disease is transmitted from one animal to the next with just one bite. Once an animal is bitten, larvae form and produce baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream. Heartworms live and grow for 3 years in cats.
Heartworm disease is 100% preventable by giving your cat a monthly heartworm prevention chew. The disease is treatable, but the cost of treatment can be expensive, overwhelming, and painful for your cat. You can treat your cat with monthly prevention for almost 10 years for the cost of treating one time. Left untreated, heartworms can be fatal.
External Parasites (Fleas, Ticks, and Mites) – Fleas and ticks are the most common parasites you will see as a cat owner, but we know that these tiny creatures can cause a mountain of issues within your cat. Fleas are a top cause of skin-related issues with dogs and cats. Some cats become so irritated that they cause self-inflicted lesions. A flea infestation can quickly make your cat become anemic. When ingested, fleas can infest your cat’s intestinal tract with parasites (tapeworms). Fleas can also transmit Bartonella, the bacteria that causes “cat-scratch fever” in humans.
Ticks transmit and spread many diseases. Lyme Disease is the most prevalent and can cause a variety of spin-off issues such as lameness, lethargy, kidney issues, and joint swelling.
Mites can cause infections in the ear from scratching. Mange mites may cause scabies or mange and left untreated, they may compromise your cat’s immune system. Mites can easily transfer between animals, so prevention and treatment is important.