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As a general rule of thumb, veterinarians encourage pet owners to practice flea and tick prevention throughout the entire year. However, if you’ve fallen out of the habit, there’s no time like the present to guard your dog or cat against these problematic pests. Committed to helping Cincinnati, OH, pets lead long healthy lives, Montgomery Animal Hospital highlights a few critical reasons why May is the month to take flea and tick prevention seriously.

The Bugs Are Active

One common misconception about ticks is that they are only active in the summer. In Ohio, however, these dangerous critters are always lurking about. Between the months of May and November, the number of ticks generally increases, and in turn, boosts the likelihood your pet might get bitten.

By contrast, fleas have a difficult time surviving in the wild until temperatures reach above 50 degrees. When spring brings higher temperatures, fleas can jump-start their rapid reproductive cycles. Specifically, these parasites can lay more than 500 eggs during their lifetimes. In just three weeks, those eggs can hatch into more fleas that will continue the reproduction process. With such high activity, your pet won’t stand a chance against flea and tick infestation unless they are properly treated with help from a veterinarian.

The Disease Risk Is Higher

veterinarianWhen fleas and ticks take up residence in your cat or dog’s coat, they can easily transmit a variety of dangerous diseases through their bites. For example, fleas are known to introduce tapeworms and bartonella—a bacteria that thrives in red blood cells, potentially causing fever and whole-body pain in your pet. Fleas will also cause your animal to scratch frequently, possibly opening up wounds in the skin to increase infection risks.

Ticks are even worse than fleas. For dogs, ticks present the risk of debilitating conditions such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Cats bit by ticks are in danger of a whole different slew of illnesses, including the often fatal cytauxzoonosis (bobcat fever) or rare but severe tularemia (rabbit fever).

The Treatment Is Simple

While the risks of flea and tick bites are overwhelming, preventing them is an incredibly easy process. With the help of medicated chews, topical solutions, and collars, you can give your pet a full month of protection in just a few minutes. If you’re looking for longer-term protection, consider using Bravecto® products. Unlike standard treatments, Bravecto products are designed to work for up to three months. They are available both in tasty chewable and topical forms for easy use for both cats and dogs. For a longer list of safe, reliable flea and tick protection. scroll to the bottom of our blog post.

If your cat or dog is yet to be protected from fleas and ticks this spring, you can turn to the specialists at Montgomery Animal Hospital for insight. Taking note of your preferences, these Cincinnati veterinarians will introduce you to a variety of prevention products that are best suited for your pet’s health needs. Call (513) 791-7912 today to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian, or visit them online to learn more about their services. 

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