FORT WORTH, Texas, July 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Louisa Martin recently purchased Boat Club Road Animal Hospital in the Fort Worth area. She is reminding pet owners about the importance of protecting pets against fleas and ticks this summer. Summer is prime time for fleas and ticks to affect pets in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. All pets are at risk of exposure, but pets that play outside, visit dog parks or attend daycare/boarding kennels are at an increased risk. Fleas and ticks can transmit illnesses and parasites. To avoid fleas and ticks, Dr. Louisa Martin recommends that pet owners use a medicated flea/tick preventative. Dr. Louisa says that many of these preventatives are safe for puppy and kitten wellness care. It is important to treat all the pets in the household (cats & dogs) at the same time, every 30 days, all year round.
"Here in Ft. Worth, fleas and ticks can be a year-round problem – and they are stronger than ever in the summer," said Dr. Louisa. "Prescription strength medicated treatments are the best way to prevent flea and tick problems before they start."
Without proactive prevention, fleas can quickly become a serious problem affecting both pets and the home.
"Female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs a day on a pet," said Dr. Louisa Martin. "These eggs are then left on household furniture, carpeting and bedding (even hardwood floors), making fleas extremely difficult to remove."
Not only are fleas difficult to remove from a home, but they also carry parasites. Pets can inadvertently swallow a flea while biting their skin to relieve itching; this can cause tapeworms requiring veterinary treatment.
Ticks are another common problem during the summer. Ticks are found in wooded or grassy areas; they can travel inside with pets after biting them and attaching to the skin. Tick bites can cause Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Dr. Louisa recommends pet owners check their pets' skin for ticks after time outside.
"After a day playing off-leash games or visiting the park, a quick spot-check is essential," said Dr. Louisa. "Once a tick bites a pet, removal can be difficult. We recommend using sterilized tweezers to carefully pull off the tick. Our veterinary hospital can also remove the ticks."
Proactive measures, such as topical and oral medications and tick collars, are important to preventing fleas and ticks.
"While over-the-counter remedies are gaining in popularity, these remedies are generally older and less effective medications than what your veterinarian can prescribe for your pet," said Dr. Louisa. "For maximum protection, we recommend a topical or oral medication. Our vet team is more than happy to help pet owners find the right preventative for their pet."
To learn more about flea and tick prevention, as well as puppy and kitten wellness care, visit http://www.bcrah.com/.