Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital’s Blog

Tapeworms, even the name sounds gross. But, tapeworms are a common type of internal parasite that affects dogs and cats. Some species of tapeworm are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to humans.

Learn more about these intestinal foes and how you can protect your pet from them.

What Is a Tapeworm?

A tapeworm is a long, flat worm that lives in the intestinal tract of animals. It is typically transmitted via fleas when a cat or dog ingests the flea, or the feces of an infected animal. They attach themselves to the wall of the intestine with a hooked type of mouth.

When considering the smallest of foes (namely those itchy parasites like fleas) there’s good reason why they’re so mighty. They can proliferate and cause an infestation in the home that affects both us and our pets. For anyone who’s ever dealt with an infestation, avoiding a repeat episode is a must.

Although small, many parasites can cause a serious impact on the health of our furry friends. Fleas, ticks, and other parasites aren’t just a seasonal affair; they continue to thrive throughout the winter months. To learn more about why your-round parasite prevention is vital to your pet’s health, the team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital is here to explain.

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Parasites in pets are serious business. Some parasites, such as heartworms, can be deadly. Others, like fleas, are mostly just frustrating. Luckily, in modern veterinary medicine we have several options for pet parasite prevention, which will effectively prevent most parasite infections in our pets.

While there are many options for pet parasite preventatives, we have been somewhat limited in the way these had to be administered. Recently, two new parasite preventative options have come onto the market. These are changing the face of veterinary parasite prevention.

NexGard

Until earlier this year, if you wanted to protect your dog from fleas AND ticks, you needed to use a topical application of a product such as Frontline Plus. While these products are usually effective when used correctly, they can be a problem for pets with sensitive skin or those who bathe or swim frequently. Continue…

Contrary to popular belief, protecting your pet from fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes –and the diseases they cause – is not a seasonal affair. To effectively combat the dangers these parasitic pests pose to your pets, parasite prevention must be a year-round commitment.

This is especially true in Rocklin, where the temperatures seldom dip to the point of freezing these pests into dormancy. With the mild temps and ample environmental opportunity, our community is prime for the threats that fleas, ticks, and heartworm-bearing mosquitoes can pose.

Why Year-Round Parasite Prevention Matters

Even if we did live in a climate where fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes were only active for a few months a year, year-round parasite prevention would still be a must.

Here’s why:

Pets and people do travel, and can bring unwelcome and unintended guests with them. Likewise, even if it’s cold enough to slow these parasites Continue…