At LaGrange Veterinary Hospital, we know how deeply you care about your pet’s health—but we also know many pet parents don’t realize just how serious parasites can be. Fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms aren’t just a seasonal annoyance—they’re a year-round concern that can impact your pet’s comfort, lead to long-term illness, and in many cases, put your family at risk.

Let’s walk through what you need to know, what to watch for, and how to keep both your pets and your loved ones safe.

Why Parasite Prevention Is About More Than Just Your Pet

We get it—sometimes parasite prevention can feel like just another thing on the list. But here’s the truth: parasites aren’t just a nuisance. Some of them are zoonotic, which means they can be passed from pets to people. And not in some rare, far-off scenario. It happens more often than many people realize.

The Real-Life Risks:

  • Children are especially vulnerable. Kids often play barefoot in the yard or park—exactly where parasite eggs or larvae may be present in the soil. If your pet has intestinal parasites and you’re not picking up waste promptly, the risk rises.
  • Pets lick themselves—then they lick us. A dog or cat that licked their rear after using the bathroom might turn around and lovingly lick your child’s face. It’s sweet—but it’s also a possible route for parasite transmission.
  • Hookworms and roundworms can penetrate human skin or be ingested by accident. In people, they can cause skin lesions, stomach problems, and even more severe organ damage in rare cases.

Read more from the AVMA on intestinal parasites and zoonotic risk.

Fleas & Ticks: More Than Just Itchy Bugs

Fleas

If your pet is scratching constantly, has red bumps, or you’ve seen “flea dirt” (those tiny black specks), fleas are likely to blame. But they do more than make your pet miserable.

  • Fleas can transmit tapeworms, which also affect humans—especially kids who may accidentally ingest flea-infected debris.
  • Some pets develop Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD), a hypersensitive reaction to flea saliva that causes intense itching, inflammation, and hair loss.

Learn more about FAD from Merck.

Ticks

Ticks are sneaky and dangerous. They can transmit Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis—all of which can affect people, too.

  • Lyme disease in humans can cause long-term joint pain, fatigue, and neurological issues.
  • Your pet doesn’t have to be visibly sick to carry a tick into the house that then bites someone else.
  • If your pet has Lyme disease, chances are high that you’ve also been exposed. Get tested!

Review CDC’s tick prevention advice for pets and people.

Heartworms: Dangerous, Silent, and Preventable

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and can silently damage your pet’s heart and lungs for months before symptoms appear. For dogs, the disease can be deadly if untreated. In cats, even a few heartworms can cause severe respiratory distress.

Check CAPC’s Heartworm Prevalence Map to see the risk in our region.

Signs of heartworm disease:

  • Coughing
  • Fatigue after light activity
  • Weight loss or labored breathing

Learn more from the Heartworm Society.

Protect your pet with:

  • Monthly chewables or topicals
  • Annual heartworm tests
  • Keeping mosquito exposure low, even indoors

Intestinal Parasites and Their Impact on Humans

This is the part that often surprises people: intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and Giardia don’t just harm pets—they can infect people, too.

Common Parasites That Are Zoonotic:

  • Roundworms: In pets, they cause vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. In humans—especially kids—they can lead to a condition called visceral larva migrans, where the worms travel to organs and eyes.
  • Hookworms: These can burrow through human skin, leading to cutaneous larva migrans—itchy, inflamed skin lesions.
  • Giardia: A microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea and stomach cramps. It’s highly contagious to both pets and people.
  • Tapeworms: Often seen in pets with fleas. Kids can become infected if they accidentally swallow flea-infected material.

Explore the AVMA’s guide to these parasites.

How people (especially kids) get infected:

  • Touching contaminated soil while playing outside
  • Not washing hands after picking up pet waste or playing with pets
  • Getting licked on the mouth by an infected dog or cat

Signs Your Pet Might Have Parasites

  • Persistent itching or licking
  • Worms visible in stool or around the anus
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
  • Swollen belly in puppies or kittens
  • Lethargy or unexplained weight loss

If you see any of these signs, call us. Here’s how to know if it’s a pet emergency.

What You Can Do: Prevention and Peace of Mind

Year-Round Prevention Tips:

  • Use monthly flea, tick, and heartworm prevention—even in winter
  • Deworm puppies and kittens regularly
  • Clean up pet waste immediately (yes, even in your own backyard)
  • Wash pet bedding weekly and vacuum regularly
  • Discourage face licking, especially with young children
  • Regular vet checkups and annual fecal exams are non-negotiable

Check out AAHA’s guide to year-round prevention.

You’re Not Alone—We’re Here to Help

At LaGrange Veterinary Hospital, we take parasite prevention seriously—because we know how serious the consequences can be. Whether it’s finding the right monthly medication, doing a fecal test, or answering your questions about risks to your kids, we’re in your corner.

We’ll help you create a prevention plan tailored to your pet’s lifestyle, risk level, and your family’s needs.

Schedule a wellness visit today and let’s work together to keep your entire household healthy, safe, and parasite-free—all year long.