18 Sep, 2007
Articles
- Administer year-round treatment with broad spectrum heartworm anthelminitics that have activity against parasites with zoonotic potential.
- Administer preventive flea and/or tick products as soon aster birth as possible (consistent with label claims) for the life of the pet.
- Conduct annual physical examination with complete history.
- Conduct periodic (annual is ideal) heartworm infection testing in dogs and periodic testing in cats.
- Feed pets cooked or prepared food (not raw meat) and provide fresh, potable water.
- Conduct fecal examinations two to four times during the first year of life and one to two times per year in adults, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors.
- Administer anthelmintic treatment of puppies at two, four, six and eight weeks, followed by administration of a monthly preventive.
- Administer biweekly anthelmintic treatment of kittens between three and nine weeks, followed by administration of a monthly preventive.
- Treat nursing bitches and queens along with their offspring.
- Tailor parasite prevention programs to geographic seasonal and lifestyle factors.
- In the absence of optimal year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combination products utilize the following protocol:
- Deworm puppies and kittens at two, four, six and eight weeks of age and then again monthly until six months of age.
- In kittens, begin biweekly anthelmintic treatment between three and nine weeks of age and then again monthly until six months of age.
- Conduct fecal examinations two to four times a year in adult pets, depending on patient health and lifestyle factors, and treat with appropriate patasiticides.
- Test for heartworm status yearly in dogs and/or before starting preventive medications.
