Florida’s Parasites Don’t Take the Winter Off
In much of the country, flea and mosquito season ends with the first frost. In Central Florida, it barely slows down. That is why Vineland Animal Hospital recommends year-round prevention for every dog and cat, including indoor cats, and a yearly heartworm test for dogs.
Dr. Millhoff will help you choose the right products for your pet’s age, size, lifestyle and budget, and you can pick them up at the clinic or order through our In-House Pharmacy.
Send us your request and our team will call you to confirm a day and time. If your pet is sick today, please call (407) 233-3386.
A flea problem on your pet means a flea problem in your home. Understanding the flea life cycle and methods for its control can be a daunting task. We will gladly assist you in this process. We can provide you with safe, effective flea prevention and if necessary, flea treatment.
Fleas can cause problems for pets ranging from minor to life-threatening. Not only can these parasites cause severe itching, irritation, and allergies, but they can also transmit tapeworms and diseases. Fleas can infest dogs, cats, ferrets, mice, and rats. And fleas don’t just stay on pets; they can bite people, too.
You don’t want these blood-sucking parasites on your pet or in your home. We can help keep them away or help you get rid of them if they’ve already found their way inside. Call us to find out how to eliminate and control fleas or to start your pet on a preventive today.
When they bite, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm infection. And those heartworms can wreak havoc on your dog or cat. These parasites can severely and sometimes fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Some pets may not show any signs of infection; in those that do, symptoms can vary widely.
In dogs, signs of heartworm disease can range from coughing, fatigue, and weight loss to difficulty breathing and a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid accumulation from heart failure). Canine heartworm infection can also lead to a life-threatening complication called “caval syndrome” (a form of liver failure); without prompt surgical intervention, this condition usually causes death.
Although often thought to not be susceptible to heartworm infection, cats can indeed get heartworms. Cats can suffer from a syndrome referred to as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD); the symptoms can be subtle and may mimic those of asthma or allergic bronchitis. Signs of respiratory distress, such as rapid or difficult breathing, wheezing, and panting, are common. Other symptoms include coughing, vomiting (typically unrelated to eating), and loss of appetite or weight. Heartworm infection is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs.
Treatment for heartworm infection is far more expensive than prevention—and it can actually kill your dog. There is no approved treatment for cats. Some cats spontaneously rid themselves of the infection; others might not survive it. And even one or two adult heartworms in a cat can cause serious problems.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to keep your dog or cat safe: by administering monthly heartworm preventives. Most heartworm medications also protect your pet against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, and ticks. We can recommend the best regimen of prevention for your pet.
Ticks are becoming more and more prevalent in North America, and they’re now being found in areas where people and pets didn’t previously encounter ticks. These parasites aren’t just a nuisance; they can cause serious—and sometimes deadly—diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. Contact us immediately if your pet starts coughing or has joint pain, trouble breathing, fever, weakness, or loss of appetite, weight, energy, or coordination.
The best method for keeping ticks off your pet is by keeping your dog or cat on a tick preventive. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing or shoes. Tick preventives are safe and highly effective at controlling ticks and the diseases they carry. Call us to get your pet protected today!
Don’t panic if you find a tick on your dog or cat, even if your pet is on a preventive. Some preventives kill ticks after they’ve come in contact with your pet. Ticks can hide easily under your pet’s fur, so as an added measure of protection, we recommend checking your pet for ticks every time your pet comes in from outside. And don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you might have.
Warm temperatures, summer storms, lakes and retention ponds keep mosquitoes active nearly every month, and every bite is a chance for heartworm. The Southeast, including Florida, has some of the highest heartworm rates in the country.
Flea eggs and larvae thrive in Florida's warm, humid yards, garages and carpets. A missed month can turn into a household infestation that takes weeks to clear.
Brown dog ticks can even live and breed indoors, and lone star and American dog ticks are found in wooded and grassy areas around Orlando.
Raccoons, opossums and feral cats carry fleas and ticks into suburban yards.
Hookworms and roundworms thrive in warm, sandy soil, and some can infect children. A yearly fecal test catches them.
There is no single best product for every pet. Dr. Millhoff will recommend a monthly chewable, a topical or a longer-lasting option based on your pet’s species, weight, health, lifestyle and how easy it is for you to give. Many products cover fleas, ticks, heartworm and intestinal worms in one dose.
Fleas and ticks are not just minor nuisances; they can transmit serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases, some of which can be passed to people. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because fleas and ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing, shoes, or other pets. Keeping your pet on a monthly preventive is your best bet for protecting your pet—and your family—against these parasites.
Unfortunately, if you were late or missed a dose even once, your pet could have become infected if he or she was exposed during that time. Call us and explain the situation. Depending on how many doses have been late, we may recommend that you have your pet tested for heartworm infection, then put your pet on a regular preventive schedule. You should also have your pet retested in seven months, as recommended by the American Heartworm Society. (For heartworms to be detected, they need to be five to seven months old.)
Yes. Central Florida winters are mild, and mosquitoes, fleas and ticks stay active through most of them. Vineland Animal Hospital recommends year-round prevention for dogs and cats. Call (407) 233-3386 to set up a plan.
Yes. Mosquitoes get indoors, and fleas ride in on people and other pets. Cats have no approved heartworm treatment, so prevention is the only protection.
No product is 100 percent, doses get missed, and some dogs spit out pills. The American Heartworm Society recommends a yearly test for every dog.
Year-round protection that matches our climate.
Chosen by the doctor who knows them.
Heartworm and fecal testing at your pet's visit.
Pick up at the clinic or order through our In-House Pharmacy.
Vineland Animal Hospital, 11402 S Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32836, United States. Serving Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Apopka and Kissimmee.
