With the height of summer coming on fast, you should ensure that your beloved pets remain as healthy as possible. A number of nasty parasites, in fact, can pop up during the warmer months. Mosquitoes, fleas and ticks can all take up residence on your dog or cat. While you can do a bit of preventative maintenance yourself, ongoing infestations should always be handled by reputable pest control professionals.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are typically found near standing water. The females of the species, however, require a host creature for nourishment. When the insects latch on to dogs and cats, they can pass a wide array of parasites to the animals. Dogs are especially susceptible to heartworm, which can be fatal if it is not caught early on.

Fleas

Fleas are nearly microscopic in size. Once they begin to breed within the thick fur of a dog or cat, the colony can explode nearly overnight. Fleas can cause itching, redness and inflammation. They can also pass on tapeworms, plague and a number of other maladies. In the worst cases, large scabs can crop up all over the skin.

Ticks

Ticks are perhaps the most dangerous of all. They can burrow into the skin with their pincers and drink blood from the host animal. Lyme disease can be passed to your household pet in this way. Dogs or cats that run through nearby fields and woods should be checked for ticks after each outing.

Professional exterminators will keep your pet free of infestation. Experts, in fact, can design comprehensive treatment plans that will prevent all of the worst pests from taking over your yard. Infestations that are already well underway should be treated promptly.