Skip to main content

Fleas and Ticks

Home » All Services » Fleas and Ticks

At Family Friends Veterinary Hospital, we recommend year-round flea and tick prevention to keep your pets safe from these harmful parasites. We offer a variety of safe and effective preventives, including topical treatments, oral medications, and long-lasting collars. Our team can help you choose the best option based on your pet’s lifestyle and needs.

Fleas

Fleas are more than just a nuisance—they can cause severe itching, allergies, anemia, and even transmit tapeworms and diseases. These tiny pests reproduce quickly, making infestations difficult to control. Fleas don’t just stay on pets; they can also bite humans and infest your home.

Prevention is key! Monthly flea preventives work by killing adult fleas and preventing eggs from hatching, stopping infestations before they start. Even indoor pets are at risk, as fleas can hitch a ride inside on clothing, shoes, or other animals.

Ticks

Ticks are becoming increasingly common in our area and can spread serious diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. These parasites attach to pets and feed on their blood, sometimes transmitting infections before they’re even noticed.

Tick prevention is crucial, even for pets that spend most of their time indoors. Preventive options include oral chews, topical treatments, and tick-repellent collars, all of which provide long-lasting protection.

If you find a tick on your pet:

  • Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it as close to the skin as possible.

  • Dispose of the tick properly and clean the area with antiseptic.

  • Monitor your pet for signs of illness, including lethargy, fever, joint pain, or loss of appetite.

Even if your pet is on a preventive, regular tick checks—especially after outdoor adventures—offer an extra layer of protection.

Have questions? Contact us today to discuss the best flea and tick prevention for your pet, or address any concerns you have!

Flea and Tick Prevention Options

Preventing fleas and ticks is essential for your pet’s health, and there are two main types of preventives to choose from: chewable tablets and topical treatments. Both options are safe and effective when used correctly, but the best choice for your pet depends on their lifestyle, environment, and individual needs.

Chewable Tablets

These oral medications provide systemic protection, killing fleas and ticks when they bite your pet. Chewables are convenient, don’t wash off, and often protect against additional parasites. For dogs, we carry Bravecto (protects for 12 weeks) and NexGard Plus (monthly, also protects against heartworm and intestinal parasites). For cats, we carry NexGard Combo, a topical option that also covers heartworms and intestinal parasites.

Topical Treatments

These spot-on medications are applied to your pet’s skin and kill and repel fleas and ticks before they bite. Some also repel mosquitoes, reducing the risk of heartworm disease. We carry Vectra 3D for dogs, a monthly topical that provides broad-spectrum parasite protection. Never use Vectra 3D on cats, and only use under extreme caution in multi-pet households where cats may come into contact with treated dogs.

If you have both dogs and cats in your home, it’s especially important to keep topical products labeled for dogs away from cats, as some ingredients—such as those in Vectra 3D—are highly toxic to cats and can cause severe reactions.

For additional flea and tick prevention options, especially for cats, visit our online store for vet-approved products.

Not sure which option is best? Contact us today, and we’ll help you choose the right protection for your pet!