What Parasites Start Showing Up Before Summer in East Tennessee

We often think of summer as the prime time for parasites, but here in the Volunteer State, we’re lucky enough to get an early parasite season. We’re being sarcastic, of course—we’re not lucky at all. But the team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here to help you mitigate the risks of spring parasites for your East Tennessee pets. 

Here’s what we want you to know. 

Which Spring Pet Parasites to Watch For in East Tennessee

Fleas, ticks, and internal parasites, oh my! We deal with all three here in East Tennessee.

Thanks to our deliciously mild winters and not-so-deliciously humid climate, flea season comes early in Tennessee. Fleas can get active as soon as temperatures consistently rise above 50°F. Or, if your home is particularly warm and humid, fleas can thrive there even earlier in the spring. 

Spring also wakes up the ticks of Tennessee at around the same time. These buggers tend to start multiplying in the early spring, transmitting serious diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. While dogs are the most at risk of getting ticks, cats are susceptible, too. 

Finally, we arrive at internal parasites, perhaps one of the worst types of spring pet parasites ever. With spring comes mud, and with mud comes the perfect breeding conditions for roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and—worst of all—heartworms. 

Puppies are the most susceptible to serious complications from roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, but heartworms can affect dogs of any age who are exposed to infected mosquitoes. 

And trust us: we have plenty of infected mosquitoes here in Tennessee. 

Signs of Parasites in Dogs and Cats

Now that we know which parasites are out and about this time of year, let’s cover the signs to watch out for:

• Itching, scratching, and hair loss, which can be a sign of fleas
• Ticks attached to your pet’s skin—always do a tick check after spending any amount of time in a wooded area! 
• Vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss, which can be a sign of intestinal worms
• Coughing, reluctance to exercise, or lethargy, which can point to a potential heartworm infection

Despite this cornucopia of unpleasant symptoms, some pets might not show any early warning signs. Because of this, it’s essential to get your pet tested for the big baddies every year. When it comes to pet parasites, an ounce of prevention truly is worth about 10,000 pounds of cure. 

How to Prevent and Treat Parasites in Pets

The cornerstone of parasite prevention in Knoxville and the surrounding areas is year-round consistency. We get fleas, ticks, and heartworms all year long, which means in our region, preventives should also be given out all year long. 

We recommend getting your pet’s feces tested for parasites 1-2 times a year, if they’re in good health, and more often than that if they live with health challenges that increase their risk of parasite infection. 

Additionally, you can: 

• Use a pet-safe mosquito repellent like Thermacell—especially in the evenings and mornings—to reduce the sheer number of those buzzing critters in your yard
• Cleaning up all doggy doo-doo on a daily basis, because parasites love poo
• Trimming your grass regularly and keeping all receptacles (dog bowls, wheelbarrows, buckets) free of standing water
• Scheduling annual or biannual veterinary wellness exams 

The experienced team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here to help you prevent pernicious pests from invading your precious pet. Call us at (865) 609-0311 to schedule a wellness visit with a focus on pest prevention today.