Spring is the Time to Renew Your Pet's Medications
Spring is a time where everything unthaws, including pests and allergies so it's a great time schedule a wellness visit to protect your pet. The weather starts warming up, and unwanted pests can start calling your pet’s coat home. We will discuss keeping your pet up-to-date on their medications throughout the entire year, however there are some specific pet medications that we strongly recommend when the weather gets warm.
We'll go over:
Flea & Tick Medicine For Prevention & Treatment
Fleas and ticks can be not only a major annoyance to your pet, but consequently a severe nuisance to your home! Without the proper care, fleas can infest a household and leave small but painful bites. In Missouri, flea and tick season kicks off in March and runs throughout December. If you are traveling or outside of Missouri, be sure to keep updated on the flea-and-tick season map that the American Kennel Club has provided.
Different Options for Your Pet's Flea and Tick Medicine
The two main options we look at primarily for flea and tick medicine are Bravecto Chews and NexGard Chewables . The comparison on these two pet medications is fairly close. Bravecto costs a bit less (per month), compared to Nexgard. Bravecto is a bigger cost up front (because it covers 3 months) but less than Nexgard when broken down per month.
Here is a comparison between the two flea and tick medicines:
Bravecto Chews
Kills Fleas
Kills Ticks
Repels Fleas & Ticks
Kills newly emerging fleas before they can lay eggs
Safe for use in breeding, pregnant dogs and lactating dogs
Starts to kill fleas within 2 hours
Active ingredient: Fluralaner
One chew every 12 weeks
NexGard Chewables
Kills Fleas
Kills Ticks
Repels Fleas & Ticks
Kills fleas before they can lay eggs
Kills 100% of fleas within 24 hours
Active ingredient: Afoxolaner
One chew per month
Heartworm Prevention and Treatment
Heartworms are spaghetti-like worms that infest the heart of your beloved pet and cause some dangerous health issues that can be prevented. By getting your pet pre-tested and then choosing a reputable heartworm medication, your pet is sure to be safe from this known pet health risk.
Testing Your Pet for Heartworms
Testing your pet for heartworms should be done at least once annually, even if they are on a year-round heartworm prevention medicine. If your pet experiences symptoms including: mild persistent cough, unwillingness to exercise, fatigue after a small amount of activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss, heartworm pre-testing may need to be done by your local veterinarian. Your dog may already have heartworms, in that case giving heartworm medicine could potentially just kill the current parasites and cause a blockage in your pet’s heart. This is an area where you should definitely consult with your local veterinarian.
Something to remember also is the year-round protection your pet has and how their monthly dosage affects the process. Heartworm medications are extremely effective however if you are late on a monthly dosage, or your pet throws up/spits up their heartworm medicine that could throw the cycle off and leave your pet unprotected.
Heartgard+ for Dogs
Heartgard+ works extremely well by effectively preventing heartworms from inhabiting your pet’s internal organs. The “+” helps protect against intestinal parasites year-round in addition to heartworms. Heartgard+ is much more effective than the regular Heartgard pet medication.
Your Pet and Interceptor+
Interceptor+ is a great pet medication that also acts as a parasite preventative workhorse for your pet by eliminating up to 5 different types of worms including heartworm, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms. You get the most bang for your buck and extra protection for your pet, what’s not to love?
Heartworm Treatment and Prevention All Year Round
Heartworm treatment and prevention all year-round is recommended to keeping your pet as healthy as possible. By marking a set date on the calendar or coordinating with your vet’s office, it makes remembering whether your pet has had their heartworm check up or not much easier.
Don’t Forget Seasonal Allergies
Spring allergens like pollen and mold can make pets just as uncomfortable as people. If your dog or cat develops itchy skin, watery eyes, or frequent ear issues, they may be reacting to the season. Our team at Chipman Road Animal Clinic can recommend safe allergy relief options to keep your pet comfortable all spring long.
My Pet Is Scratching More — Is It Allergies, Dandruff, or Something Else?
If your dog or cat is itching more as the weather warms up, it could be seasonal allergies, dry skin from changing humidity, or even a mild skin infection. Fleas, pollen, and mold are all more active in spring and can irritate sensitive pets. If the scratching doesn’t ease up, visit Chipman Road Animal Clinic — our experienced team can pinpoint the cause and recommend simple treatments to keep your pet comfortable and itch-free.
How Can I Keep My Pet Healthy All Year?
Spring is the perfect time to check your pet’s medications, update their parasite prevention, and address any new health concerns like allergies or shedding changes. Regular wellness exams help catch issues early and keep your dog or cat feeling their best as the weather warms up. At Chipman Road Animal Clinic in Lee’s Summit, our experienced team makes it easy — just walk in or call 816-524-1886 for trusted, compassionate care all season long.
