Flea and Heartworm Preventative

DUE ON THE 15TH OF EVERY MONTH!

ALL GPG dogs over 8 weeks of age MUST receive flea and heartworm preventative every month. It is also recommended that GPG cats must receive flea preventative every month.

Heartworm and Flea preventative must be picked up from the GPG Shelter at 725 N. 15th Street East St. Louis, IL 62205 on or before the 15th of every month during public hours (Tues-Fri 2-6 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m. to noon). 

Why are preventatives important?

Heartworm is a condition in cats and dogs transmitted by a mosquito, and due to the high humidity in our area, mosquitoes and heartworm disease are common. Making sure your foster gets their preventative monthly is an important requirement of fostering.

Ticks have the potential to cause lyme disease. It is caused by a bacteria. Lyme disease causes recurrent lameness due to inflammation of the joints. There may also be a lack of appetite and depression.  More serious complications include damage to the kidney, and rarely heart or nervous system disease. It's best to check your foster dog after walks or hikes over the summer months.

Fleas... well, fleas are just annoying for both animals and humans. Because they reproduce so quickly, you will have thousands of them in your house if your foster pet gets them. They are a huge pain to get rid of, so it's not worth it! It is not unusual for our new rescues to have fleas, but as long as you use preventative (and give initial baths with plain blue Dawn as necessary), they will not be able to spread.