Vaccines and Parasite Prevention for Alpena Pets
At Switzer Veterinary Clinic, we prioritize disease prevention for all companion pets and farm animals. In this blog, our team explains the importance of species-specific pet vaccines and pet parasite medicine for a lifetime of optimal health and happiness.
Pet Vaccines Hold the Key to Disease Prevention
Pet vaccines are essential for protecting your furry family member from infectious diseases. We will customize your pet’s vaccination schedule according to your pet’s age, size, lifestyle, and other risk factors, and we welcome any questions you have about your pet’s recommended vaccines.
Recommended cat vaccines:
- Distemper (a combination vaccine that guards against herpesvirus, respiratory virus, feline parvovirus, and chlamydia)
- Leukemia
- Rabies
Recommended canine vaccines:
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Canine influenza
- Parvo
- Leptospirosis
- Rabies
- Lyme
- Bordetella
If you have farm animals, ask us about our species-specific vaccines for your cattle or other livestock.
The Importance of Avoiding Parasites
Fleas, ticks, and heartworms are tiny pests that can cause big problems once they’ve infected an animal, which is why avoiding parasites to begin with is critical for your pet’s (or farm animal’s) overall health. Your veterinarian will recommend pet parasite medicine specific to your animal at your next visit to protect your pet from the following:
- External parasites, including fleas, ticks, and mites. These tiny parasites are more than a nuisance. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, and fleas carry tapeworms and cause severe skin problems in animals. Additionally, fleas on a pet typically means fleas in your household—and they are extremely difficult to eradicate.
- Internal parasites, including heartworms, tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. These potentially life-threatening parasites take up residence in an animal’s digestive system, robbing the animal of vital nutrients, altering growth and development, and weakening an animal’s immune system. Heartworms, which are spread through mosquito bites, can be fatal even for otherwise healthy animals because of the damage done to the heart and lungs.
Preventing Parasites in Animals
Year-round pet parasite medicine is the single most important step in protecting your pet or farm animals from the dangers of external and internal parasites.
Prescription preventives and treatments include:
- Monthly topical treatments
- Flavored chewables
- Oral medications
- Injectable treatments (once an animal has a parasitic infection)
Other protective measures against parasite infections:
- Keep hands and households clean. This includes washing hands after interacting with animals, frequent vacuuming, washing pet bedding often, and bathing soiled pets.
- Promptly clean up waste. Many parasites are transmitted through animal feces, so clean up and dispose of pet waste properly.
- Avoid raw food diets. These put your pets at a higher risk of exposure to bacteria and parasites.
- Groom pets often, especially after hiking or spending time in wooded areas.
Protect your pet from the dangers of parasites and infectious diseases. Contact our team today at (989) 356-4880 to schedule a preventive care appointment.