Parasite Control & Vaccination
Parasite Control
We are offering a free heartworm test when buying 6 doses of heartworm, or fleas and tick prevention!
GTA Mobile Veterinary Services offers pet owners many benefits when it comes to preventative medicine. From heartworm prevention and tick prevention to flea and parasite control, our veterinary team can help ensure the overall health of your beloved pet.
Benefits of preventative medicine for heartworms, ticks, fleas, and parasites include:
- Identifying early signs of illness
- Results in fewer trips to the veterinarian
- Less costly treatments down the road
Heartworm Season
GTA Mobile Veterinary Services is offering pet owners a great way to stay ahead of heartworm season this spring. Pets are at risk for heartworm all year round, but it becomes especially important to be aware and take preventive steps during pet heartworm season when mosquitoes – the main transmitter of the disease – start to emerge. We provide at-home testing for pet owners’ convenience and peace of mind, reducing visits to traditional veterinary clinics and preventing the spread of any illnesses or communicable diseases that pets might otherwise pick up in an enclosed facility. GTA Mobile Veterinary Services offers owners a safe, unique service that is sure to help protect their four-legged friends from the dangers of heartworm season this spring.
GTA Mobile Veterinary Services understands how important it is to detect heartworms early, so they ensure their tests are thorough and accurate while still being fast and efficient. You can rest assured knowing your pets will get the top-tier care they deserve during this critical time of year.
Parasite Control
Pets are a part of our families, and preventing parasite infestations is an important part of keeping them healthy. Both ectoparasites (external parasites) and endoparasites (internal parasites) can affect your pet at some point in their life. Ectoparasites, such as fleas and ticks, are not only a nuisance to your pet, but can transmit vector-borne diseases to humans and pets such as Bartonella (cat scratch disease, transmitted by fleas), Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. Fleas can also cause a severe dermatologic condition for your pet resulting in very itchy, inflamed skin, due to flea allergy dermatitis.
Roundworms are the most prevalent endoparasite in pets. Others include hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Pets are typically infected with these parasites through accidental ingestion of parasite eggs (which are microscopic) from areas that have fecal contamination from other infected animals. Alternatively, some parasites are acquired through ingestion of intermediate hosts such as rodents (Taenia tapeworm species; Toxocara roundworm species) or fleas (Dipyllidium tapeworm species).
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These parasites are also a health risk to humans and are considered zoonotic – meaning they can be transmitted from animals to people. For example, if a person accidentally ingests roundworm eggs, the larvae can migrate into the body and cause organ damage and potentially blindness. Hookworm larvae in the soil and grass can infect bare skin and cause a condition in people known as cutaneous larva migrans.
Heartworm is another important endoparasite, but one which is not zoonotic. Heartworm infections result from pets being bitten by infected mosquitos. The larval form of the heartworm travels through the bloodstream to the heart where it develops into an adult. The adult heartworms live in the right side of the heart and if left untreated, result in progressive heart failure and death. In the initial stages of heartworm disease, pets may be asymptomatic. As the condition progresses, symptoms may evolve including a cough and exercise intolerance in dogs, and vomiting/coughing in cats. Treatment of heartworm disease can be very risky for the pet, and very costly.
Because of the health risk to your family and pets, it is important to keep your pet on a year-round parasite-prevention program. There are several preventives that, when used properly, are very effective at greatly reducing the risk of your pet acquiring heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, and tick-transmitted diseases. Additionally, you can help prevent the risk of zoonotic disease to your family by practicing good hygiene (frequent hand washing), avoiding eating unwashed raw vegetables or undercooked meats, and cleaning up pet feces in your yard. For more information about pets and parasites, visit petsandparasites.org, and consult with one of our friendly staff!
Pet Vaccinations
We are pleased to offer, at the time of the vaccine, a big discount for any wellness blood work.
Based on your pet’s age, medical history, lifestyle, and environment, our GTA Mobile veterinarians will discuss the optimal method for your pet’s vaccination schedule. You can bring your cat or dog in as early as eight weeks old for their first set of shots.
Almost every 3-4 weeks after your pet’s initial immunizations, you will need to take him or her in for boosters. After the initial vaccination series is over, your pet will receive booster doses every one to three years, depending on the vaccine and their lifestyle.
