Providing Preventive Vet Care
simple way you can help keep your pet healthy is by protecting him or her against parasites. Heartworms, fleas, ticks, and other internal and external parasites are much more than just pests; they can cause life-threatening conditions in your pet—and cause severe, potentially fatal, health problems for you and your family.
Regular checkups are an important tool for identifying problems before they become more serious. Even when pets are in pain, they don’t always reveal it. However, an experienced veterinarian can check for some of the common ailments and determine if there is a medical problem. If your pet seems unusually lethargic or is exhibiting troubling behaviors, schedule a visit with our veterinarians for preventive vet care in Niagara Falls.
Wellness & Vaccination Programs
Wellness and vaccination programs are designed to prevent disease and prolong the lives of your companion animals. Disease prevention is always less costly than dealing with the treatment of a disease once your pet has developed it. An example would be the treatment of parvovirus. Parvovirus treatment can frequently cost 10 times more than a single parvovirus vaccination. We provide programs for:
Early diagnosis of a disease process can lead your pet to a longer healthier life. There are many other conditions for which an early diagnosis is advantageous. For compassionate programs made especially to tackle wellness and vaccinations in Niagara Falls, book an appointment with our veterinary care professionals and specialists at the Niagara Falls Animal Medical Centre.
Flea & Tick Control
Medical Assessment
To ensure a proper diagnosis, we often need to examine your pet. We begin a medical assessment by looking at your pet’s eyes, ears, and skin and checking his or her cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and skeletal systems for any abnormalities. We will perform blood and/or urine tests as necessary to check your pet’s kidneys, liver, pancreas, and endocrine system, including the thyroid and adrenal glands.
Based on your pet’s condition, we may recommend further diagnostic tests, such as radiography (x-rays), endoscopy (internal scoping), ultrasound, or biopsy. If you’re concerned that something may be wrong with your pet, please call us to schedule a medical assessment. Depending on the symptoms, we may ask you to bring in your pet right away.
Flea and tick infestations are more than just an annoyance; they pose health risks to your pets and family. Our comprehensive approach to flea and tick control starts with an understanding of these pests' life cycles, helping us break the chain of infestation effectively. We offer personalized prevention strategies, backed by the latest in safe and effective treatments like Bravecto, ensuring your pet, home, and family stay protected. Let us guide you through the best practices for flea and tick prevention and treatment, tailored specifically to your needs. Contact us today!
What is Flea and Tick Season?
Fleas and ticks have evolved to survive in various weather conditions, making them year-round threats to pets. While traditionally more active in warmer months, these parasites can thrive in colder weather too, partly due to increasingly mild winters and the warmth of indoor environments. Regional variations in flea and tick activity necessitate tailored prevention strategies, recognizing that some areas may face greater risks or different peak seasons. It's crucial to adapt pet care practices accordingly, ensuring consistent protection against these pests throughout the year.
What is the Risk to My Pet? What About Cross-Species Transmission?
Fleas can transmit diseases like cat scratch fever and tapeworms, while ticks are known carriers of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. Symptoms in pets can range from mild discomfort to severe health complications like fever, lethargy, and joint pain, potentially leading to long-term health issues. Some diseases, like Lyme disease, also have zoonotic potential, posing risks to human family members. This cross-species transmission underscores the importance of effective flea and tick control to safeguard the health of both pets and their owners.
Contact us if you notice your dog or cat scratching excessively or if he or she develops any bare patches, scabs, scaling, redness, inflammation, lumps, or bumps.
Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, which are found throughout Ontario and the Niagara region. Dogs can encounter ticks while walking through wooded areas, tall grass, parks, trails, or even their own backyard. While ticks are most active from spring through fall, they can become active whenever temperatures rise above freezing.
Many dogs infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease show no obvious symptoms. However, dogs that do become ill may experience:
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Intermittent limping or lameness that shifts from leg to leg
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Fever
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Loss of appetite
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Decreased energy or activity
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Swollen lymph nodes
In rare cases, Lyme disease can lead to a serious form of kidney disease known as Lyme nephritis.
Protecting Your Dog Against Lyme Disease
Prevention is one of the most effective ways to reduce your dog's risk. This may include veterinarian-recommended tick prevention, regular tick checks after spending time outdoors, prompt removal of attached ticks, and Lyme disease vaccination when appropriate.
Not every dog requires a Lyme disease vaccine. Our veterinarians can consider your dog's lifestyle, health, travel habits, and risk of tick exposure to determine whether vaccination should be part of their preventive care plan.
If you've found a tick on your dog, have concerns about possible symptoms, or want to discuss tick prevention and Lyme disease protection, contact Niagara Falls Animal Medical Centre to schedule an appointment.