Understanding Parasite Prevention for Pets
A Complete Guide to Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Protection
As pet owners, we want our furry friends to stay happy and healthy—but parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms can pose serious risks. The good news? Prevention is easier and more affordable than treating an infection. In this guide, we’ll break down your options so you can choose the best protection for your pet’s lifestyle.
Topics Covered
Why Parasite Prevention Matters
Parasites aren’t just annoying—they can cause severe health problems:
🔹 Fleas can lead to skin allergies, anemia, and tapeworms.
🔹 Ticks transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
🔹 Heartworms are life-threatening and expensive to treat.
Preventative care keeps your pet safe and saves you from costly vet bills down the road.
Understanding the Costs of Tickborne Illnesses & Heartworm in Dogs
If your dog tests positive for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, or heartworm, treatment costs can vary depending on the severity of the infection and required diagnostics. Below is a general breakdown of what pet owners in Ontario might expect financially as per the OVMA 2025 Fee Guide for veterinary practices.
1. Diagnostic Testing Costs (e.g Accuplex, SNAP 4Dx, etc): $125 – $200
Checks for Lyme, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and heartworm in one blood test.
2. Follow-up and Confirmatory Testing: $150+
If your pet tests positive, additional testing may be needed to:
• Confirm the infection (some vaccines can cause false positives).
• Determine the severity (e.g., heartworm stage, kidney function in Lyme cases).
• Assess your pets overall health (bloodwork, urinalysis, or imaging).
3. Treatment Costs: varies greatly depending on the illness
While simple tickborne infections may only require an antibiotic course (ranging from $100+ based on pet’s weight and appropriate dosing), heartworm treatment can cost easily cost over $2000 due to the intensive protocol.
Our vets will recommend the most effective – yet cost-conscious – approach based on your pet’s specific condition.
The Bottom Line
Treating tickborne illnesses or heartworm can cost anywhere from $225 for a mild infection, to over $2,500 for advanced cases—but with year-round preventatives and annual testing, you can protect your pet for just a fraction of that cost. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Prevention (The Best Investment!)
Remember: Preventative care (year-round medications and annual testing) remains the most affordable way to protect your pet's health - and your wallet!
Flea & Tick Prevention: What Are Your Options?
1. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Topical Treatments
Examples: Advantage II®, K9 Advantix®, Zodiac® Flea Egg Collar
How They Work:
• Applied directly to your pet’s skin.
• Spread through the skins natural oils, creating an exterior protective barrier (translocation).
• Imidacloprid: Kills pests on contact—ideally, you won’t even see fleas or ticks*.
*If your pet is on Advantage® or Advantix® (with imidacloprid), ticks should die on contact before attaching. Found a tick anyway? This suggests a gap in protection—call your vet ASAP! They can help troubleshoot and keep your pet safe.
Pros:
✔Affordable
✔ Effective for low-risk, indoor pets
Cons:
Avoid baths/swimming for 48 hours (water washes off the product). Swimming may also wash off the product! Permethrin (found in some OTC dog products) is toxic to cats—never use near felines!
Best For: Pets who stay indoors and don’t swim often.
2. Prescription (Rx) Oral & Topical Medications
Examples: Bravecto®, Simparica®, SimparicaTRIO®, Bravecto®, NexGard®, NexgardSpectra®, Revolution®, Revolution Plus®
How They Work:
• Isoxazolines: Absorbed into the bloodstream to provide systemic protection.
• Kills parasites when they bite (but before they can transmit disease).
• Some medications like Bravecto last 8–12 weeks per dose, but others typically stay within your pet’s system for up to 30 days. This is why consistency in re-application is important!
Pros:
Waterproof—great for swimmers and adventurers! More reliable for active pets or those in high-risk areas (woods, tall grass). Safer for households with cats (no permethrin risk).
Cons:
Rarely, isoxazolines have been associated neurological side effects (e.g., tremors/seizures), so pets with histories of neurologic conditions should avoid taking this class of medications. Requires a vet prescription.
Best For:
• Outdoor-loving pets
• Multi-pet homes (especially with cats)
• Pets in tick-heavy regions
Heartworm Prevention: Don’t Skip This!
Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be fatal if untreated. Prevention is much easier than treatment!
1. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Topical Treatments
Example: Advantage Multi®, K9 Advantix II® (Moxidectin)
How They Work:
• Topical application – applied to the skin, absorbed into the bloodstream. It kills heartworm larvae (microfilariae), and prevents them from maturing into adult worms, and also helps to controls fleas, roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites.
• Caution: Some herding breeds (e.g., Collies, Australian Shepherds) with the MDR1 gene mutation may be more sensitive to this class of drugs (macrocyclic lactones).
Best For:
• Pet owners who prefer non-pill options
• Low-activity pets that don’t swim or bathe frequently (bathing within 48 hours of application, and frequent bathing/swimming throughout the month can reduce flea and tick control effectiveness (though heartworm protection should remain in tact)
• Situations where basic flea control is sufficient (not ideal for heavy flea/tick areas)
• Households needing heartworm + intestinal parasite protection without needing strong tick defense
2. Prescription (Rx) Oral & Topical Medications
Example: SimparicaTRIO®, NexgardSpectra®, HeartgardPlus®
How They Work:
• Topical and Oral medications which are absorbed into the bloodstream to provide systemic protection. It prevents heartworm larvae (microfilariae) from maturing into adult worms, and also helps to controls fleas, roundworms, hookworms, and ear mites.
• Caution: Some herding breeds (e.g., Collies, Australian Shepherds) with the MDR1 gene mutation may be more sensitive to this class of drugs (macrocyclic lactones).
Best For:
• Dogs in high-risk mosquito areas.
• Owners who prefer easy-to-give chewables or long-lasting protection.
• Pets needing comprehensive parasite control (fleas, ticks, and worms).
Every pet is different—what works for a lazy lap cat won’t suit an adventurous hiking dog. The best way to choose? Talk to your vet! They can recommend the safest, most effective option based on your pet’s breed, lifestyle, and health history.
Your pet’s health is worth protecting—let’s keep them parasite-free!
– The Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital Team 🐾💚
Interested in getting your pet protected?
Parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms can harm your pet’s health—but prevention is easy! Let our team create a personalized plan to keep your furry friend safe and comfortable. Contact us to book an appointment and stop pests before they start.