At Derry Animal Hospital, we can help
protect your pets
from preventable illness or disease caused by fleas, ticks, heartworms and other parasites in the Derry and Manchester, NH areas. This illness or disease may not present physical symptoms which makes prevention measures such as monthly medication and annual testing imperative to maintaining your pet’s quality of life.
Intestinal Parasites Common to Chester
Intestinal parasites can infect both dogs and cats through their eggs. Both indoor and outdoor pets are at risk, as the eggs of intestinal parasites can be accidentally brought into your home on your clothes or shoes. We frequently see roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and giardia, which can affect humans and animals. Intestinal parasites don’t always cause visible symptoms in pets, which is why prevention is imperative. We recommend yearly testing to make certain your pet is safe and healthy.
External Parasites - Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks are common external parasites of dogs, cats and other mammals. Fleas and ticks are transmitted animal to animal as well as through the environment. Many pets are exposed to fleas and ticks outside in yards, patios, dog parks or on walks. Fleas and ticks are more than a nuisance; they carry diseases dangerous to you and your pet. This is especially true for tick-borne disease in New Hampshire, which has the second-highest rate of Lyme disease in the country.
Lyme Disease, as well as Anaplasmosis and to a lesser extent Ehrlichiosis, are significant threats to you and your dog, especially during the warmer months of the year. Always check and brush your dog after being outside, especially in tall grass and wooded areas. Remember, prior to feeding a tick can be as small as a poppy seed! If a tick is attached to your dog’s skin, remove it carefully with tweezers and wash the affected bite area and your hands afterward.
Fleas are also abundant during the warm weather; however, if left untreated, they can be a problem year-round. In fact, flea infestation is one of the most common medical problems veterinarians see. Your pet can be allergic to fleas, and just one bite can result in a severely painful skin infection. Fleas can also transmit serious diseases such as bartonellosis (the bacteria that causes “cat scratch disease” in people), and parasites like tapeworms.
The best course of action to protect your pet and yourself from fleas, ticks and the potential of tick-borne disease is prevention. There are many safe, effective oral and topical flea and tick control products and a Lyme disease vaccine for dogs available at Derry Animal Hospital. Your veterinarian will help you choose the best preventive regimen based on your pet’s risk factors and health status.
Heartworms
Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It affects dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats. In the U.S., heartworm disease is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River – but it has been reported in dogs in all 50 states.
Clinical symptoms of heartworm disease develop slowly. Early symptoms include lack of energy, exercise intolerance, coughing and difficulty breathing. Because heartworm disease is increasing in frequency and is a serious and deadly disease, we recommend your dog be tested annually.
Fortunately, heartworm disease prevention is simple and effective. If you would like to find out more information on how best to protect your pet and about the preventive medicines available at our in-house pharmacy, or if you’d like to have your pet tested for heartworm disease, please call Derry Animal Hospital today for an appointment.
What Pet Owners Should Know About Heartworms
What is heartworm disease?
Heartworm disease is one that is caused by a parasitic roundworm that can infect both dogs and cats. This parasite infects your pet’s heart but doesn’t always show symptoms during the initial infection. The disease may progress and cause a lack of appetite, weight loss, breathing problems, and ultimately heart failure if left untreated.
How is heartworm disease spread?
Heartworm disease is most commonly spread by mosquitos. If a mosquito bites an infected animal such as a coyote, feral cat, or other wildlife, it can pass the disease on to another. Pets cannot spread heartworm disease to one another but can become a cause of infection for other pets they are in close contact with. We recommend regular testing and prevention measures to ensure all pets have adequate protection.
What Are the Symptoms of Heartworm in Dogs and Cats?
Symptoms may not be visible when your dog or cat is first infected, however if left untreated, the disease may progress, and the following symptoms may appear:
- Hesitancy to exercise (dogs)
- Weight loss
- Low energy after normal activity (dogs)
- Lack of appetite
- Coughing
- Asthma attacks (cats)
- Vomiting (cats)
How is heartworm disease diagnosed?
We can diagnose heartworm disease by performing a simple blood test. When your pet is infected by heartworm, the parasite produces a heartworm antigen which provokes an immune response. If the infection hasn’t progressed enough to produce the heartworm antigen, additional testing including CBC and thyroid testing can be performed to make a more accurate diagnosis.
How Can Pet Owners Protect Our Dogs and Cats From Heartworm?
At Derry Animal Hospital, we believe prevention is the best kind of medicine that anyone can provide for their pet. Make sure to provide heartworm preventatives and bring your pet in for annual testing to ensure they are healthy and heartworm free. You may also try to limit your pet’s exposure to mosquitos by ensuring windows and doors are shut tightly and limiting any stagnant water near where your pet spends their time.
Are humans susceptible to heartworm disease?
No, heartworms do not have the ability to live in humans. People can still be infected with heartworm through the bite of an infected mosquito, but the parasite is not able to survive in the human bloodstream.
