FISHERS, Ind., March 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Veterinarian Dr. Mike Graves of Bridgeview Animal Hospital in Fishers urges pet owners to keep their pets current on flea and tick preventative medications, as well as heartworm prevention medications. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can all transmit potentially-lethal illnesses when they bite pets and people. Dr. Graves adds that these insects are particularly voracious in the spring and are often drawn to pets enjoying the outdoors. He is recommending a 6-month heartworm prevention injection called ProHeart 6, as well as a new oral, chewable flea and tick preventative that lasts for 3 months called Bravecto.
"Even though we get insect-killing cold spells in the winter, active times for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are increasing throughout Indiana," says Dr. Graves. "Busy pet owners can't afford to forget a monthly dose of their pet's heartworm or flea and tick preventative any time of the year because it only takes one bite of an infected insect to make a pet very sick, or even die. These new preventives are highly effective at preventing disease and they make it more convenient for the pet owner."
Heartworm disease is a mosquito-borne ailment, explains Dr. Graves. When an infected mosquito bites a pet, it transmits heartworm larvae that travel through the bloodstream to a pet's heart. There, they attach themselves and begin eating on the heart's lining and blocking blood flow. Dr. Graves says that most healthy pets exhibit no symptoms until the infection is advanced and intensive care is needed, which is why it is crucial that pets be on their heartworm preventative at all times. He says that with ProHeart 6, pets can come in for an injection twice a year for protection, or pet owners can still opt to give their pets a monthly Heartgard chew.
Fleas and ticks are just as dangerous to pets, adds Dr. Graves. At the very least, a flea infestation can cause itchy allergic dermatitis, he explains, which can cause pets to bite and scratch incessantly until sores develop, bleed and become infected. Fleas can also spread tapeworms, typhus and even cause anemia in smaller pets. Ticks spread dangerous illnesses like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis.
"Bravecto is a new chewable flea and tick preventive chew that kills fleas and their eggs as well as ticks for 12 weeks, which a lot of pet owners find more convenient than the monthly application. Both these and the monthly NexGard are effective. The key is to keep pets protected constantly so they don't get these preventable diseases, because these parasites are always biting."
Bridgeview Animal Hospital in Fishers is a full-service animal hospital and pet wellness center that provides vaccinations, pet dental care, parasite prevention, spay and neuter pet surgery, emergency care and grooming. To learn more, visit their website at http://www.bridgeviewvet.com.