Preventing Heartworms, Fleas, & Ticks in McMurray, PA

Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic in McMurray offers comprehensive care and treatment options for dogs, cats, and small mammals affected by heartworms, fleas, and ticks. If your pet is suffering from these parasites, our expert team is ready to help!

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Identifying Fleas & Ticks on Your Pet

Fleas:
These tiny insects are fast and can look like small black sesame seeds with legs. You may also notice flea waste, which appears as specks of pepper, in your pet's fur. If you want to read more about how to spot fleas on your pet click here.

Ticks:
Before feeding, ticks can resemble small spiders. After feeding, they swell up and may look like a brown kernel of corn attached to your pet's coat. Click here to learn more about how many types of ticks threaten you and your pet.

Using Monthly Preventatives is the ONLY Effective Way to Prevent Ticks and Fleas

To protect your family & pets from ticks & tick-borne diseases perform regular tick checks, especially after family fun outside!

Talk to your veterinarian about which flea & tick prevention medication is going to be best for you and your pet.

How Our Veterinarians Can Help

Our veterinarians will provide immediate treatment to eliminate any parasites found and discuss long-term prevention strategies, including monthly medications and vaccinations to ensure your pet remains protected.

Lyme Disease Prevention & Treatment

Here in Pennsylvania one of our biggest concerns is Lyme Disease, and all dogs, no matter their lifestyle are at risk. Most infected dogs may not show any signs at all of Lyme disease, but in others they will begin to show signs within 2-5 months after the dog was infected. At Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic, we provide both preventative care and treatments for Lyme Disease.

Understanding Lyme Disease in Pets

Lyme Disease affects dogs differently. Here’s what you need to know:

For Dogs:
Symptoms most commonly include intermittent limping or lameness that shifts from leg to leg, fever, loss of appetite, decreased activity, swollen lymph nodes and painful/ swollen joints.
A blood test is required to confirm Lyme disease is present.

For Cats:
We do not typically worry about our cats contracting Lyme Disease, however your cat can become a host or carrier of ticks if not on monthly preventatives as well. Which can then lead to transmission to you or your dog.

Managing Lyme Disease

Make sure to be using safe and reliable monthly preventatives as recommended by your veterinarian. At Pleasant Valley we can help you select the product that best suits you and your dog’s needs.
Keeping your dog up to date on the Lyme Vaccine, especially in Pennsylvania is very important!
If possible, avoid high risk spots like tall grasses, marshes, and wooded areas. If hiking on trails with your dog, stick to cleared trails and avoid brushing against overhanging branches or shrubs.
Perform daily “tick checks” of all pets and family members in your home during high-risk seasons (especially spring through fall).
If you do find ticks on your pet, DON’T FORGET to check yourself and your family for ticks, too!

PA Tick Testing Lab

You can send a tick you found on yourself or your pet to the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania to see if it carries Lyme Disease.

Heartworm Prevention & Treatment

Heartworms pose a significant risk, particularly to dogs, but also affect cats and ferrets. At Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic, we provide both preventative care and treatments for heartworms.

Understanding Heartworm Disease in Pets

Heartworms affect dogs and cats a little differently. Here’s what you need to know:

For Dogs:
Symptoms include loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, and fatigue after minimal exercise.
A blood test is required to confirm heartworm presence. Administering preventatives without testing can be harmful if the infection is already present.

For Cats:
Symptoms can vary, including asthma-like attacks, weight loss, and sometimes sudden collapse.
Unlike dogs, there is no approved treatment for heartworms in cats, making prevention crucial.

Managing Heartworms

For dogs, heartworm treatment involves eliminating adult worms and ongoing prevention to stop future infestations. For cats, the focus is strictly on prevention due to the lack of treatment options.

If you suspect your pet might be at risk or has been infected with heartworms, contact Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic to schedule a test or discuss preventive measures. We're here to provide your pet with the care they need to stay healthy and parasite-free!

Understanding Lyme Disease in Pets

Lyme Disease affects dogs differently. Here’s what you need to know:

Managing Lyme Disease

Make sure to be using safe and reliable monthly preventatives as recommended by your veterinarian. At Pleasant Valley we can help you select the product that best suits you and your dog’s needs.
Keeping your dog up to date on the Lyme Vaccine, especially in Pennsylvania is very important!
If possible, avoid high risk spots like tall grasses, marshes, and wooded areas. If hiking on trails with your dog, stick to cleared trails and avoid brushing against overhanging branches or shrubs.
Perform daily “tick checks” of all pets and family members in your home during high-risk seasons (especially spring through fall).
If you do find ticks on your pet, DON’T FORGET to check yourself and your family for ticks, too!

Understanding Heartworm Disease in Pets

Heartworms affect dogs and cats a little differently. Here’s what you need to know:

Managing Heartworms

For dogs, heartworm treatment involves eliminating adult worms and ongoing prevention to stop future infestations. For cats, the focus is strictly on prevention due to the lack of treatment options.

PA Tick Testing Lab

You can send a tick you found on yourself or your pet to the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania to see if it carries Lyme Disease.

Preventing Heartworms, Fleas, & Ticks in McMurray, PA

Identifying Fleas & Ticks on Your Pet

Using Monthly Preventatives is the ONLY Effective Way to Prevent Ticks and Fleas

How Our Veterinarians Can Help

Lyme Disease Prevention & Treatment

PA Tick Testing Lab

Heartworm Prevention & Treatment

PA Tick Testing Lab

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