SCARSDALE, N.Y., July 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a release issued under the same headline on Sunday, July 13th 2014 by Central Animal Hospital, please note that NexGard was misidentified as a medication against worms. It is in fact a flea and tick medication. Additional changes were made throughout the release. The corrected release follows:
Fleas, ticks, heartworms and intestinal worms are some of the most common problems affecting pets during the summer months. Proactive prevention is essential to keeping pets healthy and protected against these harmful parasites, advises one local veterinarian. The veterinary care team at Central Animal Hospital is reminding pet owners about the dangers of fleas, ticks, and worms. The veterinary hospital encourages pet owners to use a medicated topical preventative, like Frontline and Advantix, or a new chewable tablet, NexGard, to protect against fleas and ticks. Heartgard, also a once-a-month chewable tablet protects pets from heartworms, and the intestinal worms, hookworms and roundworms.
Flea and tick prevention is an important part of summertime pet wellness care . On behalf of the veterinary care team at Central Animal Hospital, veterinarian Dr. Michael Woltz is reminding pet owners to use either a topical flea/tick preventative or a medicated chewable tablet that protects against fleas, ticks, as well as intestinal and heartworms.
"The best way to prevent skin irritations and Lyme disease is to prevent flea and tick bites," said Dr. Woltz. "For fleas and ticks, we recommend Frontline and Advantix, both topical medications, or the NexGard chewable tablet. For heartworm, hookworms, and roundworms, we recommend Heartgard."
Even with topical medication, however, Dr. Woltz stressed that it is still a good idea to check pets for fleas and ticks, especially if they spend a significant amount of time playing outside.
For cats and dogs, pet owners should look behind the ears for fleas and check the belly for ticks. A pet owner may also find what is known as "flea dirt" on the belly. This is dried blood caused by flea defecation. Finding flea dirt is a common sign that your pet has fleas and needs proactive care.
Another way to check a pet for fleas is to have the pet stand over a white towel. Pet owners should run a fine tooth comb through the pet's fur. As fleas fall off the fur, they appear as dark specks on the towel. Since ticks may stay attached to a pet's skin, however, pet owners should run a finger through their pet's fur to check for any ticks.
Summertime parasite prevention doesn't stop with fleas and ticks. Pet owners should be vigilant in protecting pets against worms, including heartworms, hookworms and round worms.
Heartworms are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. These worms can live for years inside a pet's body, eventually choking off the flow of blood between the heart and lungs. Without diagnostic tests, heartworms are difficult to detect and treat; prevention is the best way to keep pets healthy.
Dr. Woltz also stressed that hookworms and roundworms are communicable to people. Consequently, proper parasite prevention is essential to protecting both pets and their owners.
Central Animal Hospital offers comprehensive pet wellness services.
Central Animal Hospital, 1-888-667-5235
