K9FORCE | FEBRUARY 2025
Battling the Bugs and Creepy
Crawlies: An Explanation of
Veterinary Anti-Parasitic
Inside the Vet's World:
"My dog isn't a risk for parasites; we don't go
anywhere but around the neighbourhood." This
phrase, in some form or another, is prevalent during
many of my consults and, unfortunately, just plain
untrue! Each dog is at varying risk for internal and
external parasites, and some of these parasites also
carry a zoonotic potential, which affects us humans!
But they can all acquire an infection in the right
situation!
When left unchecked, parasites can wreak havoc on
your pet's overall well-being. In severe cases, some
parasites can cause further damage than their initial
bite by transmitting several severe illnesses such as
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease.
Dr. Alexandria Horner
DVM, MS, DACT
Board-Certified Specialist
of the American College of
Theriogenology
There are several categories of anti-parasitic medication, and some do
provide overlap protection. The main categories include:
Flea and Tick Preventatives
Heartworm Preventatives
Dewormers
Each category can then be further broken down into how each medication
is administered: oral, topical, collars or injectable. Which one to use
depends on the exposure and risk to each dog and, in some instances,
breed and previous health history.
Appropriate treatment and prevention with anti-parasitic medications can
help prevent these complications from occurring, improving the overall
quality of life of your companion.