Heartworms, Fleas, & Ticks

The state of Georgia and its surrounding southeastern states have a climate that causes heartworms, fleas, and ticks to be prevalent year-round. These bugs and parasites can survive in humid climates above freezing temperatures. You can purchase medications that solely treat one issue at a time or you can choose combo medications.

Heartworms are transmitted through mosquitos. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transfer the larvae into your pet’s blood and heart. It takes 6 months for the larvae to be visible in a heartworm test. Once your pet is infected, it is very time consuming and costly to treat your pet and rid it of heartworms. The best solution is to provide your pet with a heartworm preventative on a monthly basis year-round. There are topical medicines that are put on the skin, oral pills, and an injectable option. All Creatures offers the injection heartworm medication known as ProHeart 6, which is a 6-month preventative that we administer at the yearly and semi-annual exams. Other options include the following: Simparica Trio, Revolution, and Bravecto.

• Signs my pet may have heartworms
• See below for medication recommendations

Ticks are dangerous for you and your pet, since they are carriers of a variety of illnesses, including lyme disease (link to information on lyme disease). Lyme disease is very difficult to diagnose as well as treat and is incurable once contracted. There are five species of ticks in Georgia. We recommend Simparica Trio (oral medication) or the Seresto Collar to prevent ticks, as they are the only medical preventatives that prevent all five tick species.

• See below for medication recommendations

What do I do if I find a flea or tick on my pet?

Fleas are a nuisance that can be very difficult to remove from your home once they infest your pet and your property. There are many options of flea medications out there. Some only work to prevent fleas, while others are combo medications with other preventatives. We highly recommend Simparica Trio, since it prevents heartworms, fleas, and all the tick species in Georgia.

• How to remove fleas from my pet 
• How to remove ticks from my pet

Recommended medications for Heartworms, Ticks, & Fleas for Dogs & Cats:

Dogs

Flea and Tick Medication Recommendations:

• Simparica – a monthly oral medication that prevents fleas and all of the tick species found in Georgia. Available once the puppy is 6 weeks old 
• Bravecto – an oral medication that is given every 3 months to prevents fleas and some of the tick species found in Georgia. Available once the puppy is 6 months old
• NexGard– a monthly oral medication that prevents fleas and some of the tick species found in Georgia. Available once the puppy is 8 weeks old

Heartworm Medication Recommendations

• Simparica Trio – a monthly oral medication that prevents heartworms, fleas and all of the tick species found in Georgia. Available once the puppy is 6 weeks old 
• Revolution – a monthly topical medication that prevents heartworms, fleas, and some ticks. Available once the puppy is 6 weeks old
• NexGard Plus – a monthly oral medication that prevents heartworms, fleas, and some ticks. Available once the puppy is 8 weeks old
• HeartGard– a monthly oral medication that prevents heartworms, it does not prevent fleas or ticks. Available once the puppy is 6 weeks old
• Proheart 6 (Proheart 12 not currently available at All Creatures) – Proheart 6 is an injection medication that prevents heartworms for 6 months (Proheart 12 prevents heartworms for 12 months). It does not prevent fleas or ticks. Available once the puppy is 6 months old

Over the Counter Flea and Tick Recommendations

• Capstar – an oral flea medication that will immediately kill all fleas on the body for 24 hours. This is a short acting treatment not a preventative medication
• Seresto Collar – worn around the dog's neck to prevent fleas and some ticks for up to 8 months

Cats:

Heartworm medication Recommendations:

• Revolution Plus – a monthly topical medication that prevents heartworms, fleas, and some ticks. Available once the kitten is 8 weeks old
• Bravecto Plus – a topical medication that lasts 2 months and prevents Heartworms, fleas, and some ticks. Available once the kitten is 6 months old
• NexGard Combo – a monthly topical medication that prevents heartworms, fleas, and some ticks. Available once the kitten is 8 weeks old

Flea and Tick Medication Recommendations:

• Revolution– a monthly topical medication that prevents fleas, and some ticks. Available once the kitten is 8 weeks old
• Bravecto – a topical medication that lasts 3 months and prevents fleas, and some ticks. Available once the kitten is 6 months old

Over the Counter Flea and Tick Recommendations

• Capstar – an oral flea medication that will immediately kill all fleas on the body for 24 hours. This is a short acting treatment not a preventative medication

Visit our online pharmacy to purchase you heartworm, flea, or tick prevention

Need more care info?

Check out our links on the main Dog page!

Check out our links on the main Cat page!