With so many products available on the market today to control and prevent attacks by common parasites, it can be difficult to choose the best solution for your pet.
The ANCS team has compiled information, to help you control and prevent fleas, ticks, heartworms, zoonotic parasites and other pests, in a comprehensive chart to help you compare the different parasite preventatives used and recommended by veterinarians for your pets; Parasite Prevention Comparison Chart (PPCC).
We have only included parasite prevention products in the PPCC, that have been proven effective by vigorous scientific testing and that have been approved by the FDA.
Read the brief descriptions of the most common pet parasites and the health risks associated with them;
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Fleas These Medical Problems; Flea-Allergy Dermatitis, secondary skin irritations, tapeworms, stomach flue and anemia. |
wingless insects feed on the blood of your pet and lay 50 eggs per day, which developt into adults within a couple of weeks. Eggs are found on your pet or on anything your pet comes in contact with. |
Tic These blood-feeding parasites sinsert their jaws into the skin of their host and latch on until they are full. Ticks can detect heat and are most active outdoors in warm weather. Some ticks can lay 2000 or more eggs. Medical Problems; Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, tuleremia, babesiosis, erlichiosis, anaplasmosis, meningoencephalitis, anemia, paralysis, death. |
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Heartworms
Medical Problems; coughing (with or without blood), weight loss, fainting, congestive heart failure. |
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Nematodes Toxacara spp. – These dog and cat roundworms cause the zoonotic disease; Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM) in humans. You can become infected when flies with the eggs stuck on them land on your food or other surfaces or when you don’t wash your hands before eating. Hookworms – These parasites live in the small intestines where they suck blood from the intestinal walls. They are also zoonotic, causing anemia, loss of iron and abdominal distention. |
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Tapeworms Some tapeworms are considered zoonotic; contamination can occur between humans and animals. The tapeworm can be found in the digestive tract, where it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. Although some people and animals can suffer from upper abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and loss of appetite. |