At Winslow Park Animal Hospital, we understand that pets are family. Protecting your dog or cat from parasites is essential to giving you as many healthy years together as possible. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance—they carry diseases that can seriously harm your pet and, in some cases, transmit illness to humans as well.
Why Year-Round Prevention Matters
Many pet owners mistakenly believe parasite prevention is only necessary during the summer months. However, warming temperatures and milder winters in Connecticut mean parasites are now active year-round. Consistent prevention is key to keeping your pet safe from:
Fleas
- Cause intense itching and allergic dermatitis
- Transmit tapeworms
- Create hot spots and skin infections
- Can cause anemia in young or small pets
Ticks
- Carry Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and other serious illnesses
- Particularly prevalent in our area of Connecticut
- Can attach anywhere on your pet’s body, but prefer the head, ears, neck, and paws
Mosquitoes
- Transmit heartworm, a potentially fatal disease
- Heartworm often shows no symptoms until well advanced
- Treatment for dogs is expensive and difficult; there’s no treatment for cats
Prevention Is the Best Medicine
We offer a variety of effective topical and oral parasite preventatives that protect against fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal parasites. These medications kill and repel pests while preventing the serious diseases they carry. In addition to preventive medications, thoroughly check your pets for fleas and ticks daily if they’ve been outdoors. Look carefully around the head, ears, neck, paws, and between toes. You can spot evidence of fleas by noticing small black specks that resemble pepper or bits of dirt on your pet’s skin.
Customized Prevention Plans
Our veterinary team will help you choose the right parasite prevention protocol based on your pet’s lifestyle, age, and risk factors. We also recommend regular check-ups and fecal examinations to ensure your pet remains parasite-free.
Prevention is always easier, safer, and more cost-effective than treating parasite-borne diseases. At Winslow Park Animal Hospital, we believe in taking the time to get to know our patients and their families—you and your pet won’t be just another number. Any preventive care plan we create will be tailored specifically to your pet’s needs.
Ask about our in-house rebates to save on preventative care. We are proud to match most Chewy prices.
For more information about parasite prevention or to schedule an appointment at our Westport, CT veterinary hospital, call us at (203) 226-5555.