JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Ringworm, Lyme disease, and roundworms are just a few of the diseases pets can contract from fleas, ticks and heartworms. Fortunately for military families in the local area, the veterinary clinics at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, provide services that enable pet parents to protect their animals and families from possibly contracting these diseases.
While some pet owners may only treat for fleas, ticks and heartworms during the warmer months, veterinary personnel recommend treating them year-round to prevent the development of diseases brought on by these parasites.
“Many people think they only need to treat in the summer when we see the most mosquitoes and ticks,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Treftz, Fort Eustis Veterinary Treatment Clinic NCO in charge. “But if you’re not treating year-round, your pet could be bitten by these parasites as soon as the treatment you’ve given them wears off.”
According to the American Heartworm Society, although heartworm disease is seen more in the warmer southern states, it has been reported year-round in all 50 states.
During a pets annual exam, veterinarians and technicians at JBLE recommend testing for heartworm disease, a test which only takes about 10 minutes, but could save pet owners money if the disease is caught early.
“Prevention medication is considerably cheaper than spending several hundred dollars on treatment after an animal has been diagnosed with heartworm disease,” said Dr. Claire Lowery, Langley Veterinary Clinic veterinarian. “And unfortunately, the treatment is very aggressive on the animal and isn’t always guaranteed to work.”
Though heartworm primarily affects pets, ringworm and many other diseases have the possibility of being transmitted to humans who come in contact with the animal. To prevent infection of pets and humans, veterinarians recommend treating both indoor and outdoor pets.
“Some people only treat their outdoor pets because they think they’re the only ones exposed to parasites,” said Treftz. “Parasites can live on the skin for a few days before they die so if an outside pet brings them in and lies on bedding in the house, then it spreads to the indoor pets who lay on that bedding, then the humans [that] pet the animals get it.”
Both veterinary clinics at JBLE provide medications, and provide online pharmacy price comparison list and can make recommendations for individual pet needs.
To schedule an appointment or for more information on flea, tick and heartworm prevention options, contact the Fort Eustis Veterinary Treatment Clinic at 878-5824 or the Langley Veterinary Clinic at 764-5678.