What can I do at home to treat or prevent parasite infestations?

If you want to treat intestinal parasites, do things like making sure that you pick up the feces in your dog's yard so that if they did have a parasite that they don't reinfest themselves. Make sure that they don't get into other dogs’ feces, particularly at a dog park. As far as fleas and ticks, you want to use your preventives, but you want to keep your dog nicely groomed, and check on him a lot. Ensure that even when you have your preventatives, you look at them from time to time and make sure that they don't have any parasites on them. One way to avoid ticks is not going in the areas where tall grass is because that's where the ticks are. You want to be careful that you just avoid those areas whenever ticks are out, which in Maryland is usually during the spring, the summer, the fall, and early winter, so almost all of the months of the year in Maryland.

Again, we'll recommend the best products for you. And then if you use them, you shouldn't have to do anything else in your home. If you do have a bad flea infestation, we’ll have you vacuum a lot, but really we just want to treat the pet.

Clean, scoop, and wash your hands. Also, keep your dog on heartworm prevention because they often have heartworm, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites.

The best thing you can do is to bring your dog in so we can examine it and then prescribe the appropriate types of preventatives. At home, though, ensure you're picking up your dog's fecal material frequently, so they're not potentially spreading things in their yard and reinfecting themselves. You should also limit their exposure to other pets that might be carrying parasites.

To treat or prevent parasite infections at home, it's essential to be vigilant about your pet's hair coat, symptoms, and overall well-being. Identifying any issues early can help ensure proper treatment and prevention measures are taken. Consult with your veterinarian to discuss the best flea, tick, and intestinal parasite prevention options for your pet. If you have any questions about your dog's parasites, don't hesitate to reach out to a veterinary professional for assistance.

First, have your pet tested for parasites at least once a year if they are an adult, or more frequently if they are a puppy. Secondly, keep your pet on preventive treatments to avoid infections in the first place. Maintain a clean environment by picking up feces and administering preventive treatments regularly. This will help reduce the risk of parasites in your pet's environment.