Parasite control is crucial for maintaining your pet’s health and well-being. Parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms, can cause pets discomfort and illness and lead to severe health issues if left untreated. Effective parasite control helps prevent diseases, allergies, and other health complications, ultimately ensuring your pet leads a healthy and happy life. 

Pets who live in the cold North Dakota climate don’t often have parasite issues unless they travel outside the area. Travel to another part of the country or world opens a whole new world of potential parasite infestation, so our State Ave Veterinary Clinic team has created this guide to explain how your travel history may affect your pet’s parasite control needs. 

What is a pet travel history? 

Your pet’s travel history refers to their past or recent travel experiences, including visits to different geographic locations, whether within the United States or internationally. Veterinarians need information about places pets have visited, because these areas may be known for specific parasites or diseases that are not prevalent here in North Dakota. Pets that have traveled to areas where certain parasites are prevalent may need targeted parasite prevention measures. By knowing your furry friend’s travel history, our State Ave Veterinary Clinic team can tailor their parasite control to protect your pet’s health based on the specific risks associated with areas to which they have traveled or plan to go.

Regional pet parasite prevalence

When you are aware of parasites’ prevalence in areas to which you have traveled or plan to go with your pet, you can help prevent them from contracting certain infectious diseases. The following parasites are endemic to regions outside North Dakota:

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) in pets

   – Prevalence — Mostly found in areas with warm and humid climates such as the South.

   – Regions — Southeastern United States, Gulf Coast, and other tropical and subtropical regions

Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) in pets

   – Prevalence — Most commonly reported in the Northeast and Upper Midwest

   – Regions — Northeast and Upper Midwest, as well as parts of the Pacific Coast

Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) in pets

   – Prevalence — Found in both urban and rural areas, with greater prevalence in warmer climates.

   – Regions — Throughout the United States, particularly in areas with mild winters

Ticks (Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis) in pets

   – Prevalence — Ticks are widespread across the United States, with specific species being prevalent in certain regions.

   – Regions — Northeast, Upper Midwest, and the South, as well as in areas with wooded or grassy areas

Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum) in pets

   – Prevalence — Tapeworms are common in areas with high flea infestations.

   – Regions – Regions where fleas are prevalent, including both urban and rural areas

Tell our veterinarian about your pet’s travel history and plans

If you do not include your pet’s travel history when providing our team with your furry pal’s health history, you may be putting your pet’s health at risk. A pet who has traveled to or plans to go to an area with a parasite prevalence different from that of North Dakota may be at risk for contracting parasites or diseases not commonly found in our state. This oversight can cause your pet to develop illness and severe health complications. In addition, if you neglect to let our team know about your pet’s travel history or plans, your furry pal could transmit parasites to other pets, posing a risk to our region’s entire pet population. 

Parasite prevention options for pets

If you and your pet have traveled outside of North Dakota or are planning to, please let our State Ave Veterinary Clinic team know. We can assess other regions’ parasite prevalence and recommend targeted preventive measures. For example, if you plan to bring your pet to an area with a high heartworm prevalence, we start your furry pal on heartworm prevention medication right away. 

You love your furry friend and should stay vigilant and proactive regarding their travel history and plans, and their potential risk for contracting parasites and the infectious diseases they transmit. When you let our veterinarian know where your pet has traveled or plans to go, we can assess those areas’ parasite prevalence, and provide your furry pal with targeted preventive measures to protect their health and well-being. Stay informed about the regions your pet has visited or will be going and consult with our State Ave Veterinary Clinic team to determine appropriate parasite control strategies.