How often should my dog have a fecal exam?

The CDC recommends a fecal examination during each of your puppy’s wellness visits. Once your dog is a year of age or older, an annual fecal examination is recommended to check your dog’s stool for intestinal parasites.

Why does my dog need heartworm prevention?

We recommend year round heartworm prevention for all dogs. Unfortunately heartworm disease is common in the state of North Carolina in dogs who are not on prevention. Heartworms are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito and can take up to 6 months to cause a “positive” result on a heartworm test. If adult heartworms develop in your dog, the treatment involves receiving 3 injections of an arsenic containing medication called melarsomine or immiticide, and requires exercise restriction for 6 months or longer after treatment. If not treated, heartworm disease can lead to a chronic cough, lung disease, kidney disease, congestive heart failure and death.

For more information on Heartworm disease see our heartworm Blog

Why does my dog need flea prevention?

Fleas are a very common external parasite in North Carolina. If your dog spends any time outdoors (even just to “go potty”) then we recommend year round prevention for fleas and ticks. A flea infestation can take months of treatment to resolve. Dogs that have a flea allergy may have an allergic reaction from the bite of even one flea. Fleas can also jump on the humans in the household and cause an itchy rash, or be the vectors of disease such as Bartonella. If your pet swallows a flea, then you may see tapeworms (which look like wriggling grains of rice) several months later.

What are the best flea treatments for my dog?

At Springs Road Animal Hospital, we recommend a prescription flea preventative such as Bravecto or Simparica year round. Bravecto is a medication that is administered every 12 weeks. If you have a puppy that is too young for flea prevention but has fleas present, you may bathe them and use a flea comb to remove all the fleas.

If you can’t get to the veterinarian right away, you can try an over the counter medication such as Capstar which will kill any live fleas on your pet, but does not have any lasting effects. Seresto collars can be used for up to 8 months, but please get one from your veterinarian or a reputable store and do not order these online, as many flea collars sold online may be counterfeit and can contain unknown chemicals which may cause neurologic side effects in your pet.

If you have a flea infestation in your home, then you should consider having your yard treated. If you have carpets in your home, you should vacuum them daily and clean out the vacuum after each use to prevent fleas from jumping out. You can also place a blanket or sheet on places your dog spends a lot of time (such as your couch) and wash these every few days while treating the infestation. Fleas can stay in the environment for several months, especially as eggs in the carpeting and upholstery of your home.

All pets in your household need to be treated with flea prevention year round to get an infestation under control.

Call our office to schedule an appointment!

Refill your pet’s prescriptions through our online pharmacy!

For more information about fleas, please see the CAPC website