Ed. Note: The following content was provided by Cinema Veterinary Centre, who is a client of KHTS AM-1220.
Dog owners can help prevent the spread of harmful parasites in the SCV by having their pets tested annually and talking to a Santa Clarita veterinarian about a monthly parasite preventative.
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While some kinds of parasites cause physical symptoms– like an upset stomach or persistent diarrhea –other types show no signs at all, making annual parasite testing vital for pet owners to help ensure their own pet’s health, as well as the health of the community’s pets.
“We definitely recommend yearly testing, both stool testing and heartworm testing,” said Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto of Cinema Veterinary Centre in Santa Clarita. “Some (pets) can just carry (parasites) around and potentially spread them and give them to other pets, so it’s always good to test and find out if there is anything we need to treat for.”
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A deadly cardiovascular parasite called heartworm has been on the rise in coyotes in the region, according to Ronchetto, with mosquitos easily transmitting the parasite from infected wild animals to pets, and then from infected pets to other pets.
All the mosquito needs to do is feed on the blood of the affected animal, bringing heartworm larvae into its own system, and then feed on the blood of another animal.
“If (an infected mosquito) takes a blood meal from your dog, he can inject (heartworm larvae) into your dog, and then they go through the different blood vessels and grow and mature,” Ronchetto said.
After the larvae travel through the bloodstream, they enter the major vessels of the cardiovascular system and multiply. If left untreated, the growing parasite population invades the heart itself, causing heart failure and ultimately killing the pet.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.Santa Clarita pet owners can help protect their pets from contracting heartworm by putting their pet on a monthly heartworm preventative like Heartguard, which is available with a prescription from a veterinarian.
23460 Cinema Drive
Valencia, CA 91355
661-253-9300