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Heartworm, Tick & Flea Season 2026 – What Orleans Pet Owners Need to Know
It’s almost time to protect your canine and feline family members from heartworm, flea, and tick-borne diseases. At Trim Pet Hospital, we remind Orleans pet owners that ticks are active whenever the weather is above 0°C – and they can even be found in your own backyard here in Orleans, Cumberland, and Navan.
Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be fatal if left untreated. Once a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up microscopic heartworm larvae and passes them to your pet during its next meal. These larvae migrate to the heart and lungs, maturing into adult worms that can reach 14 inches in length. The result? Coughing, exercise intolerance, and eventually congestive heart failure.
The good news is that heartworm disease is entirely preventable with monthly anti-parasitic medication. At Trim Pet Hospital, we carry safe, effective preventatives that kill the larval forms of the worm before they can cause damage. Treatment for an existing infection, on the other hand, is risky, expensive, and requires multiple injections over several days.
Ticks in the Ottawa region carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis – serious illnesses that can affect your dog’s joints, blood cells, and overall health. Fleas cause intense itching, allergic reactions, and can transmit tapeworms.
We recommend starting preventatives in May and continuing until at least November. However, with milder winters, some veterinarians now advise year-round protection.
Ask us about picking up preventative medication today. Call 613-834-4442 or stop by our clinic at 2010 Trim Road Unit 14 (Sobeys plaza). Your pet deserves a summer free from parasites.
