Colorado pets have plenty to explore, from neighborhood walks and backyard lounging to hiking trails and trips around Boulder County. But those everyday adventures can also bring exposure to fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and intestinal parasites.
That’s why cat and dog flea, tick, and heartworm prevention should be part of every pet’s regular care plan. At Indian Peaks Veterinary Hospital, we help you choose prevention based on your pet’s lifestyle, age, health history, and risk level.
If your pet is due for parasite prevention, heartworm testing, or a fecal screening, call or text us at (303) 938-9474 to schedule a visit.
When Is a Pet Considered a Senior?
Most dogs and cats need parasite prevention year-round, even if they spend most of their time indoors. Parasites can come from mosquitoes, wildlife, soil, other pets, dog parks, boarding, grooming visits, or even a quick trip outside.
Our veterinarian may recommend prevention based on:
Your pet’s age and health history
Indoor vs. outdoor lifestyle
Hiking, travel, boarding, daycare, or grooming exposure
Local parasite risks in Boulder and surrounding Colorado communities
Previous parasite infections
Current medications or health conditions
Some preventatives protect against one type of parasite, while others cover several. We’ll discuss the best choices for your pet and family, and you can pick up prevention in our animal hospital or have it shipped directly to your door through our online store.
Common Parasites in Dogs and Cats
Parasites can cause anything from skin irritation to serious internal disease. The right prevention plan helps protect your pet before these problems begin.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny external parasites that feed on your pet’s blood. They can cause itching, skin infections, allergic reactions, hair loss, and anemia in severe infestations.
Fleas can also be difficult to eliminate once they get into your home. Consistent prevention helps stop infestations before they spread to carpets, bedding, furniture, and other pets.
Ticks
Ticks attach to pets during walks, hikes, yard time, and outdoor activities. They can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.
Because ticks can be easy to miss, especially on thick-coated pets, prevention is important even if you check your pet after time outside. Year-round oral or topical tick prevention helps reduce your pet’s risk of tick-borne illness.
Heartworms
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause severe damage to the heart and lungs. Pets often show no obvious signs until the disease is advanced, at which point, irreversible damage has been caused. Additionally, there is no approved heartworm disease treatment for cats, which makes prevention even more important.
Even in Colorado, pets can be at risk for heartworm disease year-round. Monthly oral or topical heartworm prevention is highly effective, and annual heartworm testing helps detect infection early.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. These parasites can cause diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, poor coat condition, and other health concerns.
Routine fecal testing helps detect intestinal parasites, even when pets look healthy. Deworming treatment and monthly prevention help protect your pet and reduce the risk of parasites spreading to other animals.
What to Expect After Giving Parasite Prevention
Most pets tolerate parasite prevention very well. Depending on the product, prevention may be given orally, applied topically, or recommended on a monthly or quarterly schedule.
After giving prevention, monitor your pet for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, skin irritation, or unusual tiredness. Mild side effects are uncommon, but if anything seems off, contact our team so we can help determine the next step.
It’s also important to stay on schedule. Missing doses can leave your pet vulnerable, especially with heartworm prevention, flea control, and monthly deworming coverage.
Powerful Prevention Personalized for Your Pet
Parasite prevention works best when it fits your pet’s real routine. A dog who hikes Boulder trails may need different protection than an indoor cat, and a puppy starting prevention may need a different plan than a senior pet with a medical history.
At Indian Peaks Veterinary Hospital, we help you choose parasite prevention that makes sense for your pet and your household. We’ll explain what each product protects against, when to give it, and when your pet should return for testing or refills.
If your pet is due for parasite prevention, now is a good time to get back on track. Text or call us at (303) 938-9474 to discuss the best prevention options.