With the approach of summer, we become more aware of Zoonotic parasites. Zoonotic parasites are not only harmful to your pet, but also to your family. Prevention of these parasites is the best option for your whole family. What does Zoonosis mean? Zoonosis refers to a parasite or disease that can be spread from animal to human. What should you know about deworming your pet? All indoor and outdoor pets should be dewormed regularly. Good hygiene after playing with pets, not sharing food with pets and not allowing children in uncovered sandboxes are all essential points in stopping zoonotic parasite infections in humans.

Here are a few facts on heartworm disease:

- Adult heartworms live in the blood vessels of the lungs and inside the heart of an affected animal, where they can cause permanent damage.

- Treating adult heartworms is difficult and can result in the death of the patient, while prevention of the disease is safe and effective.

- Heartworm larvae (the immature form of the parasite) are transmitted from one animal to another by mosquitos. Heartworm larvae can only mature into the infectious form within the body of a mosquito.

- The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes that have bitten an animal with heartworm disease and later bite another dog and inject the infectious larvae.

- A chewable tablet once a month can safely kill heartworm larvae that were transmitted by a mosquito bite during the previous month.

-Dogs that are over 6 months of age, have not been on heartworm preventative before, or were off of the medication when mosquitoes were present, need to have a blood test run to determine if adult heartworms are present prior to beginning that preventative.

- Cats have a much lower risk of developing heartworm disease than dogs, however prevention is available for cats as well.

Come in or call to schedule an appointment today to ask your pet's doctor what you can do to prevent the diseases spread by parasites and receive 50% off of your pet's heartworm test!