Do Pets Really Need Year‑Round Flea, Tick & Heartworm Meds?

2025-08-10

You’re staring at another $200 vet bill and wondering if skipping a month of flea, tick, or heartworm meds will really matter.Your dog barely goes outside. Your cat’s never seen a flea. And those preventatives are not cheap.But what if that one skipped dose turns into a $3,000 emergency—or worse?In this episode, I’m joined by veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins to cut through the fear, guilt, and confusing pet care advice about parasite prevention. We’re talking flea meds, tick ...

You’re staring at another $200 vet bill and wondering if skipping a month of flea, tick, or heartworm meds will really matter.

Your dog barely goes outside.
Your cat’s never seen a flea.
And those preventatives are not cheap.

But what if that one skipped dose turns into a $3,000 emergency—or worse?

In this episode, I’m joined by veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins to cut through the fear, guilt, and confusing pet care advice about parasite prevention. We’re talking flea meds, tick risks, heartworm horror stories, and how to protect your pets without flushing your money down the drain.

If you’ve ever asked, “Do I really need to do this year-round?”, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL FIND OUT:
• When skipping a dose is no big deal, and when it could be deadly
• How your pet’s lifestyle, your location, and even your backyard shape real parasite risks
• How to protect your pet and your wallet without falling for fear-based sales tactics or bad advice from well-meaning friends

Because no one wants to be the pet parent who tries to save $15 on pet care and ends up with a $3,000 regret.

CONNECT WITH DR. LINDA ATKINS
Valley Cottage Animal Hospital, Valley Cottage, NY

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
• Companion Animal Parasite Council – https://www.petsandparasites.org/
• American Heartworm Society – https://www.heartwormsociety.org/

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Pet parenting is tough, but The Pet Parent Hotline helps solve real pet parenting struggles with practical pet advice. Each week, we provide pet care advice and pet saving hacks for overwhelmed pet parents trying to save money at the pet store and on vet bills, make puppy training easy, fix cat behavior problems like litter box issues and scratching, and keep multi-pet households in balance. We share pet advice on pet budgeting, cat care, dog training tips, dog behavior, stress-free vet visits, and home cleaning with pets. Follow for the pet parent support you need to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying life with pets.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com ©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

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