Flea and Tick Prevention for Dogs & Cats in Sacramento

Protect Your Pet From Parasites

Parasites aren’t just a nuisance — they can cause serious health problems for your pet and even transmit diseases to your family. Fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites are common in the Sacramento area and can affect pets year-round.

At Del Paso Veterinary Clinic, we provide comprehensive parasite prevention plans customized to your pet’s lifestyle, age, and risk factors. Dr. Khabra’s 18 years of experience helps ensure your pet receives the right protection for Sacramento’s climate and parasite risks.

Prevention is far easier and less expensive than treating parasitic diseases.

Common Parasites In Sacramento Pets

External Parasites

Fleas

• Cause intense itching, skin infections, and allergic reactions
• Can transmit tapeworms and other diseases
• Reproduce rapidly — one flea can lead to an infestation
• Active year-round in California’s mild climate

Ticks

• Transmit serious diseases including Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis
• Found in grassy areas, parks, hiking trails, and even urban yards
• Can attach to both pets and humans
• Peak season: spring through fall, but present year-round

Ear Mites

• Cause intense ear itching and inflammation
• Common in puppies, kittens, and outdoor cats
• Highly contagious between pets
• Diagnosed with ear cytology (done in-house)

Mange Mites

• Cause severe skin disease and hair loss
• Two types: Demodex (not contagious) and Sarcoptes (highly contagious)
• Diagnosed with skin scraping (done in-house)
• Requires specific treatment protocols

Internal Parasites

Heartworms

• Transmitted by mosquitoes (prevalent in Sacramento)
• Live in the heart and lungs, causing serious organ damage
• Can be fatal if untreated
• Prevention is essential — treatment is expensive and risky
• Annual testing recommended for dogs

Intestinal Parasites

• Roundworms: Most common in puppies and kittens
• Hookworms: Can cause anemia and intestinal bleeding
• Whipworms: Difficult to detect and eliminate
• Tapeworms: Transmitted by fleas or from eating wildlife
• Giardia: Causes diarrhea, especially in young pets
• Coccidia: Common in puppies and kittens

Many intestinal parasites can be transmitted to humans, especially children.

Our Parasite Prevention Services

Comprehensive Prevention Plans

Dr. Khabra creates customized prevention plans based on:

• Your pet’s age and health status
• Indoor vs. outdoor lifestyle
• Exposure to other animals
• Travel and boarding habits
• Sacramento-specific parasite risks
• Your family’s needs (children, immunocompromised individuals)
• Senior pet sensitivities and medication interactions

Flea & Tick Prevention

Monthly Topical or Oral Medications:

• Kills fleas and ticks before they can reproduce
• Some products also prevent heartworm and intestinal parasites
• Various formulations available based on your pet’s needs
• All products available on-site at our pharmacy

Parasite prevention is a key part of every pet wellness exam. Dr. Khabra reviews your pet’s parasite protection plan at each visit and adjusts recommendations based on season, lifestyle, and local risk factors.

What We Recommend:

• Year-round protection (California climate supports parasites all year)
• Products that match your pet’s lifestyle
• Combination products when appropriate
• Safe, veterinary-grade medications (not over-the-counter products)

Heartworm Prevention

For Dogs:

• Annual Heartworm Testing — Blood test done in-house with same-day results
• Monthly Prevention — Oral or topical medication
• Year-round protection recommended in Sacramento

For Cats:

• Heartworm disease is harder to diagnose in cats
• No treatment available for cats with heartworm
• Prevention is critical — monthly medication recommended

Why Year-Round Prevention Matters: Sacramento’s mild climate means mosquitoes are active nearly year-round. Heartworm prevention for dogs and heartworm prevention for cats should be maintained every single month. Missing even one dose of heartworm prevention medication can put your pet at risk.

Intestinal Parasite Prevention

Deworming Protocols:

• Puppies and kittens: Regular deworming during first months, often paired with their vaccination series
• Adult pets: Based on lifestyle and risk factors
• Monthly preventives that include deworming

Fecal Testing:

• Recommended annually for all pets
• More frequent for pets with outdoor access
• Microscopic examination for parasite eggs
• Sent to reference laboratory with results in 1-2 days

Treatment for Active Infestations

Flea Infestations:

• Prescription flea medications (faster-acting than over-the-counter)
• Environmental control recommendations
• Treatment for all pets in household
• Follow-up to ensure complete elimination

Tick Removal:

• Safe removal techniques
• Monitoring for tick-borne diseases
• Testing available if symptoms develop

Ear Mite Treatment:

• Diagnosis with ear cytology (in-house)
• Prescription ear medications
• Treatment for all pets in contact

For flea-related skin allergies, hot spots, and chronic scratching, our pet dermatology services provide targeted diagnosis and treatment.

Mange Treatment:

• Diagnosis with skin scraping (in-house)
• Prescription medications
• Monitoring for treatment response

Intestinal Parasite Treatment:

• Specific dewormers based on parasite type
• Follow-up fecal testing to confirm elimination
• Environmental sanitation recommendations

Signs Your Pet May Have Parasites

External Parasite Signs:

Fleas:

• Excessive scratching, especially at base of tail
• Small black specks in fur (flea dirt)
• Red, irritated skin
• Hair loss from scratching
• Seeing fleas on your pet or in your home

Ticks:

• Finding ticks attached to skin
• Red, inflamed area where tick was attached
• Lethargy or lameness (if disease transmitted)

Ear Mites:

• Head shaking
• Scratching at ears
• Dark discharge from ears
• Strong odor from ears

Mange:

• Intense itching
• Hair loss
• Scaly, crusty skin
• Red, inflamed skin

Internal Parasite Signs:

Heartworms:

• Coughing (especially dogs)
• Difficulty breathing
• Lethargy and exercise intolerance
• Weight loss
• Pot-bellied appearance

Intestinal Parasites:

• Diarrhea or soft stool
• Vomiting
• Weight loss despite normal appetite
• Pot-bellied appearance (especially puppies/kittens)
• Visible worms in stool or vomit
• Scooting or dragging rear end
• Dull coat

Many parasites cause no visible symptoms — regular testing is essential.

Environmental Parasite Control

For Flea Infestations:

Inside Your Home:

• Vacuum frequently (floors, furniture, pet bedding)
• Wash pet bedding in hot water weekly
• Treat all pets in the household
• Consider professional pest control for severe infestations

Outside Your Yard:

• Keep grass mowed short
• Remove debris and leaf piles
• Treat yard if needed
• Limit outdoor pet access during treatment

For Tick Prevention:

In Your Yard:

• Keep grass short
• Clear brush and leaf litter
• Create barrier between wooded areas and lawn
• Consider tick control products for yard

When Outdoors:

• Check your pet for ticks after walks/hikes
• Focus on ears, between toes, armpits, groin
• Remove ticks promptly and properly
• Save tick in sealed container if your pet develops symptoms

Why Choose Del Paso For Parasite Prevention

Call (916) 925-2107 to discuss parasite prevention options for your pet.

Email: office@delpasovetclinic.com

Visit: 924 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815

Same-day appointments available. Prevention products available on-site.

Serving Sacramento & Surrounding Communities

Proudly providing wellness and preventive care for pets in:

• Del Paso Heights
• North Sacramento
• Natomas
• Robla
• Arden-Arcade
• West Sacramento
• And surrounding neighborhoods

Schedule Your Pet’s Parasite Prevention Consultation