It is vitally important to your pet’s long term health to use preventative medications that reduce the risk of tick borne disease, flea infestation, mites, heartworm disease and intestinal parasitism. Although we understand why there may be concern about using certain preventative medications, we believe that the safety and efficacy of the options listed below outweigh the potential risks posed by the parasites they prevent and ultimately help to keep your pet safe. Further, many parasites have zoonotic potential, meaning they can cause disease in humans as well.
Ticks are highly prevalent in our area and commonly transmit serious and difficult to diagnose diseases such as Lyme, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. While cats are generally less at risk of developing tick borne disease, they can bring ticks into your home which then pose a risk for the humans in the household. Most tick preventatives also treat fleas and mites (including ear mites and mange mites), which are common parasites in our area and can lead to severe skin problems, tapeworm infections, and other diseases in cats.
Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes and grow in the pulmonary artery causing serious health problems. While cats are generally resistant to this parasite, they can become infected and once infected there is no effective treatment or cure for cats. Most heartworm preventatives also control intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites can be spread through fecal oral transmission and through predation on smaller mammals and rodents. Many intestinal parasites can cause disease in people as well so a good prevention program is vital to you and your pets health.
1. Revolution Plus is the most comprehensive and best overall option. It is a once a month 6-in-1 topical treatment and prevention for fleas, ticks, heartworms, ear mites, roundworms, and hookworms. It safely protects cats and kittens as young as 8 weeks of age weighing at least 2.8lbs. This medication comes as a small-volume liquid that dries quickly and is applied to the skin after parting the hair on the back of the neck. The safe use of Revolution Plus has not been established in breeding, pregnant or lactating cats. Side effects are very uncommon and can include temporary lethargy and decreased appetite. Very rare neurologic adverse reactions have been reported in cats and are typically transient and self limiting.
2. Bravecto is a topical solution that is applied once every 3 months that is effective against fleas and ticks. Although this preventative does not treat or prevent intestinal parasites or heartworms, it is a great safe option for cats who are vulnerable to fleas and ticks but may not be very compliant for applications. Bravecto is labeled for cats and kittens 6 months of age and older weighing 2.6lbs or greater. The most commonly reported adverse reactions include irritation at the site of administration (itchiness/hair loss) and upset stomach. There are rare reports of neurologic adverse events that are typically transient and self limiting.
3. Seresto Collar is the only collar we trust and recommend. Although this preventative does not treat or prevent intestinal parasites or heartworms, it is an odorless, non-greasy collar that kills and repels fleas, ticks and mites for 8 months. It is used in cats and kittens that are 10 weeks of age and older. The active ingredients are impregnated into the collar and are released gradually over time so that any exposure to parasiticides is minimal. The ingredients are not absorbed through the cat’s or our skin and side effects are rare and limited to loss of fur and redness of the skin. The collar has several breakaway points for safety, and its overall safety is regulated by over 80 organizations worldwide including the EPA. With respect to human and especially children contact, studies support that exposure is not significant but we do caution about the potential choking hazard due to its small size and offer topical alternatives. Although this is an over-the-counter product, it is important to purchase the collar through the veterinarian’s office or other authorized retailer to ensure product authenticity and integrity.