Fleas: A Tiny Nuisance That Causes Big Problems
Fleas can make your pet miserable and create a rapidly growing infestation in your home. These fast-moving parasites cause itching, skin inflammation, hair loss, and painful scabs. Flea allergy dermatitis, Bartonella, and even anemia can result from unchecked exposure.
A single flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day, leading to a full-blown infestation in only a few weeks. Prescription flea prevention provides powerful protection, and our team will help you select the right product for your pet’s needs.
If your pet already has fleas, we may recommend treatment such as Capstar to quickly reduce adult fleas before beginning long-term prevention, and we’ll also guide you on treating your home and environment to fully eradicate the infestation.
Ticks: A Year-Round Risk in Florida
Ticks are active in Florida throughout the year and can attach to your pet after encounters outdoors, contact with wildlife, or exposure to untreated pets. These parasites carry diseases that affect pets and people, including Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and other harmful infections.
Signs your pet may have contracted a tick-borne illness include shifting leg lameness, fever, inappetence, lethargy, bruising or clotting issues, and neurological issues.
Some ticks carry multiple diseases at once, and early detection matters. We offer a variety of topical and oral preventives, along with quick, in-house testing.
Heartworms: A Serious but Preventable Threat
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, which makes prevention essential for pets living in Orlando. Once infected, heartworms grow inside the lungs, heart, and blood vessels, causing irreversible damage if not treated early.
Cats can also develop heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD), which may cause asthma-like symptoms, vomiting, or fainting. Since there is no FDA-approved heartworm treatment for cats, prevention is especially important.
Common symptoms of heartworm disease:
Heartworm disease progresses quietly at first, which means many pets show no symptoms until the illness becomes advanced.
Persistent coughing
Fatigue after light activity
Weight loss
Difficulty breathing
Intestinal Worms: Hidden Threats That Spread Easily
Intestinal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms, often spread through contaminated soil, infected prey animals, or contact with fleas. Many pets show no obvious symptoms at first, but untreated infections may lead to digestive upset, weight loss, poor coat condition, and anemia.
Routine fecal testing and monthly parasite prevention help keep your pet protected and prevent accidental exposure to other animals in your household.