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Dog

Cat

Deworming

Treating and preventing internal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms with trusted care.

Deworming & Parasite Control: Keeping Your Pet Healthy from the Inside Out
Parasites aren’t always visible, but they can cause serious health issues if left untreated. Deworming and parasite control are key components of your pet’s wellness care—helping protect them from discomfort, illness, and even diseases that can spread to humans.

Whether your pet is an adventurous pup or a stay-at-home cat, regular parasite protection is essential to their health.

Why Deworming and Parasite Control Matter

Intestinal worms, fleas, ticks, and heartworms can impact pets at any age. Some pets show clear signs, like scooting or vomiting, while others have no symptoms at all. Without proper prevention, parasites can lead to:

  • Digestive issues (vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss)

  • Anemia or malnutrition

  • Itchy skin or allergic reactions

  • Life-threatening conditions like heartworm disease

  • Transmission of parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, to humans

That’s why prevention and routine screening are just as important as treatment.

Common Internal and External Parasites

Internal Parasites (Worms):

  • Roundworms

  • Hookworms

  • Whipworms

  • Tapeworms

  • Giardia

  • Coccidia

External Parasites:

  • Fleas

  • Ticks

  • Mites

  • Lice

How We Protect Your Pet

Our parasite prevention plans are tailored to your pet’s age, lifestyle, and risk factors. We offer:

  • Oral or topical monthly preventatives

  • Flea and tick treatments

  • Deworming protocols for puppies, kittens, and adult pets

  • Annual fecal exams to detect internal parasites

  • Annual heartworm testing and prevention

  • Treatment for diagnosed infections or infestations

If your pet is active outdoors, visits dog parks, travels, or lives in a multi-pet home, more frequent parasite prevention may be recommended.

What to Watch For

  • Visible worms in stools or around the rear

  • Diarrhea or vomiting

  • Weight loss despite normal eating

  • Excessive itching or biting at the skin

  • Scooting or dragging the bottom

  • Coughing (possible sign of heartworms)

If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to schedule a visit so we can test and treat promptly.

Protecting your pet from parasites is easier than treating the effects of an infestation. Regular prevention helps keep your pet comfortable, healthy, and protected year-round.

💙 Whether it’s a checkup, questions, or care needs, visit us—we’re here to be your partner in your pet’s health. Book your appointment today.

FAQs

We have provided some answers to our most common questions.

The Josh Client Assistnace Fund is a reserve of donations established in honor of Whole Pet Veterinary Center's former clinic cat, Josh. While Josh now lives with a graduate of our veterinary intern program, he originally came to us with multiple chronic and life-threatening illnesses that were too costly for his family to manage. We hope that with the creation of the Josh Fund, we can provide financial assistance to a small number of pet parents in need of unanticipated critical vet care. Funds will be used at the discretion of the veterinarian overseeing individual cases, along with that of the practice manager.

At Whole Pet Veterinary Center We accept cash, checks, all major credit cards, and CareCredit.

At Whole Pet Veterinary Center, we are an outpatient clinic. While we do keep patients during the day to perform tests and administer treatments, we do not have overnight/24 hr staff and do not keep pets here unattended. Patients not well enough to return home will be recommended to be transferred to the local Emergency hospital/ICU.

Fear-free vet visits use trained professionals and specialized techniques to reduce stress in pets during veterinary appointments. These visits involve gentle handling, a calm environment with soothing scents and lighting, and the use of positive reinforcement like treats and toys to build positive associations with the clinic. For some animals, a vet may also prescribe anti-anxiety medication or suggest bringing a hungry, food-motivated pet to an appointment for better rewards.

Yes, often. However, we are not an emergency or walk-in clinic, so please call. We save specific time slots in each day for pets needing care more urgently. These do tend to fill up fairly quickly in the morning. If we have reached our capacity for patients for the day, we will need to refer you to the local urgent care or emergency walk-in clinics. While we wish we could serve every patient in need, we also need to make sure that the patients we have for the day have enough staff to adequately care for them.

No, at Whole Pet Veterinary Center, all patient visits are by appointment only.