• In the United States, >60% of households have pets
• Among dog owners, 53% consider their dog to be a member of the family
• A surprising 56% of dog owners sleep with their dog next to them; ≈50% of dogs sleep on the bed
• Among cats, 62% slept with their adult owners and another 13% slept with children

• Fleas Transmit Disease (pet to pet and pet to people)
• Pets can transmit disease (pet to pet and pet to people)
• It is essential that parasites in pets are controlled to protect adults, children, and other pets

Having pets brings many benefits, such as psychological support, friendship, and even good health practices (exercising or reducing stress).

Sharing our resting hours with our pets may be a source of psychological comfort, but because pets can bring a wide range of zoonotic pathogens into our environment, sharing is also associated with risks.  These risks may be minimized with proper Zoonotic control of parasites such as fleas and Internal Parasites. 

Modern Heartworm Preventatives prevent heartworms.  Many heartworm preventatives also control common intestinal parasites and some can control fleas.  Your Veterinarian at Dunedin Animal Medical Center will recommend the best heartworm preventative for your pet.

Heartworm Preventative - prevents heartworms and can protect against other parasites in puppies and adults.

Pricing - Heartworm, Flea & other Internal Parasite preventatives

Heartworms - a real and present danger

Heartworm disease is transmitted from dog to dog through mosquitoes. It affects thousands of dogs throughout the United States and can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms can include coughing, sluggishness and difficulty breathing, though some dogs might show no outward, clinical signs at all. Heartworms can live in an infected dog for up to 7 years! During all that time, the worms are living, breeding, and dying in your dog's blood stream. 

Hookworms - a deadly burden

Hookworms attach to the small intestine of your dog and suck blood. Hookworms can infect people too. 

Roundworms - beyond the "yuck" factor

Roundworms are among the most common intestinal parasites of dogs.  They can infect over 90% of puppies under 3 months of age. Dogs infected with roundworms may experience constipation, vomiting, diarrhea or may have a pot-bellied appearance. Roundworms can inffect people too. 

Whipworms - dangerous & deadly

Dogs can become infected with these dangerous parasites by ingesting whipworm eggs from a contaminated environment. Whipworms eggs remain viable for up to 7 years in places like your yard, dog parks, dog beaches, and other pet-friendly areas. Many whipworm infections are asymptomatic, but can result in bloody diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration and in severe cases, death.

Tapeworms - just plain "gross"

Dipylidium is tapeworm of Dogs and Cats. People become infected when they accidentally swallow a flea infected with tapeworm larvae; most reported cases involve children.  Read More... follow link below to main CDC Dog and Cat Parasite page and access "T" on A to Z menu at top of page.

Additional information about the above parasites and other less-common parasites of Dogs.  this is the main page for CDC Dog and Cat parasites just use the A to Z index at the top of the page to look up Dog parasites:  http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/animals.html

Monthly Heartworm preventative - Your Veterinarian at Dunedin Animal Medical Center will recommend the best heartworm preventative for your Pet.