Is Monthly Flea & Tick Medication Important?

Find out if monthly flea & tick medication is worth it below.

Tiny, blood-sucking, creepy crawling, parasitic, pesky creatures are usually what people use to describe “fleas & ticks.” Is putting your pet on monthly flea & tick medication essential? Well, let’s see what we are up against.

These creepy crawlers may be tiny, but they can cause significant problems for you and your pet. In the smaller scope, fleas and ticks cause itching and considerable discomfort, but for the unlucky victims, they can cause severe allergic reactions in addition to transmitting diseases Some of which can be transmitted to our pets and humans. Yikes!

Ticks, if left in the skin long enough, can lead to (to name a few):

Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to hosts (dogs and humans), feed on blood, and transmit diseases directly into the dog’s system.

When pets are left untreated with flea & tick medications…

If left untreated, the consequences can be catastrophic. And cat parents, don’t be fooled – cats also fall victim to tick-borne diseases.

Fleas… another bloodsucker, are wingless insects that live exclusively by the consumption of blood from a host (our pets). There are cat fleas, dog fleas, and human fleas, as well as fleas that feed exclusively on singular species of rats, birds, and other animals-it seems hard to escape them!

A common problem caused by fleas for our pets is tapeworms. 

Cats and dogs will eat the fleas that invade their bodies to relieve itchiness. By doing so, a tapeworm begins to develop in the animal’s GI tract. The result: An even bigger problem!

Another big concern for our pets when fleas attack is flea anemia. Flea anemia is when an animal is losing too many red blood cells from fleas. Very scary! Many pet parents forget that insects drink blood and that lots of fleas can drink lots of blood.

According to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, every summer, at least one of their patients dies from flea anemia.* What is even more concerning is when you see a pet scratching from fleas, it’s because they’re likely allergic from flea bites. Cats and dogs usually do not itch their inhabited fleas, which is how they can go unnoticed.

The simple answer: Yes, flea & tick medication is important.

After a ton of research, the solution seems clear – opting in for long-term flea & tick medication for your furry companion. This should be as important as humans taking their daily vitamins.

Multiple pet households may need to consider the economics of many pets needing flea & tick medication. Luckily, there are many options for preventative parasite medications on the market today that’s best for your pet and budget.

To make sure your pet gets the medical attention they deserve, be sure to check out Spot’s dog insurance and cat insurance information. We are here to ease your pet and help with those veterinarian bills.