16355 SW 88th Street
Miami, FL 33196
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-6:00pm; Saturday: 8:30am-2:00pm; Sunday: Closed
Miami’s warm, humid climate lets fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites thrive year-round, and these parasites can cause real discomfort and, in some cases, life-threatening disease. Consistent prevention is far easier and less costly than treating an established infestation or infection later.
Dr. Morales and Dr. Fernandez treat parasite prevention as essential preventive medicine, not an afterthought. We build individualized prevention plans around your pet’s lifestyle and exposure risk, covering heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, and intestinal parasite screening with the safest, most effective products available.
Heartworm disease spreads through mosquito bites and causes lasting damage to the heart and lungs, and it progresses silently for months before symptoms like coughing or exercise intolerance appear. Even indoor pets are at risk, since mosquitoes get inside through doors and screens. Monthly preventives, available as chewables, topicals, or a six-month injectable, kill larvae before they mature. Treating an established heartworm infection costs thousands of dollars and leaves permanent damage even when successful, so prevention is by far the safer route.
Fleas cause intense itching, allergic reactions, and can spread tapeworms, and a single flea can seed a household infestation that lingers for months. Ticks carry serious diseases like Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis. Modern monthly preventives work systemically, killing fleas and ticks before they can transmit disease, which matters in Miami’s climate since parasites reproduce year-round. Call (786) 885-1590 if you’d like help choosing the right product for your pet.
Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms are common, especially in puppies and kittens who can pick them up from their mother. They can cause diarrhea, weight loss, or anemia, and some can even spread to people. Annual fecal testing catches these before symptoms appear, and some monthly heartworm preventives control common intestinal worms as well.
Treating your pet alone isn’t enough, since most of a flea’s life cycle happens off the animal, in carpets, bedding, and furniture.
Thorough vacuuming and washing pet bedding in hot water helps clear eggs and larvae from the home. Outdoors, keeping grass mowed short and clearing leaf litter reduces tick habitat, though pets who visit parks or trails still need year-round protection since ticks travel on wildlife throughout neighborhoods.
Indoor-only cats still need protection, since mosquitoes and fleas can make their way inside, though their risk level differs from outdoor pets. Dogs who frequent parks, trails, or daycare face higher exposure than pets that stay mostly in a fenced yard, and where you live in Miami, closer to water or wooded areas, can shift risk too. We tailor recommendations to your pet’s actual exposure rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
Miami never gets the winter freeze that slows parasites in northern states, so fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes stay active all year. Stopping prevention during cooler months still leaves your pet exposed, which is why we recommend continuous, year-round protection rather than seasonal treatment.
At Your Family Veterinarian, we’re proud to offer:
Yes. Mosquitoes get inside through doors, windows, and screens, and fleas can hitch a ride in on people, clothing, or other pets. Indoor pets generally face lower risk than outdoor ones, but they’re not risk-free, so we still recommend year-round protection tailored to their exposure level.
Miami’s mosquito population stays active all year, so there’s no seasonal break like there is in colder states. Heartworm disease progresses silently for months before symptoms appear, and treating an established infection is expensive and leaves lasting damage, so consistent monthly prevention is the safer, more affordable path. Call (786) 885-1590 to set up a preventive plan.
We recommend fecal testing at least annually for adult pets, and more frequently for puppies, kittens, or any pet showing digestive symptoms. Regular testing catches parasites before they cause noticeable illness.
Since most of a flea’s life cycle happens off your pet, in carpets, bedding, and furniture, thorough vacuuming and washing bedding in hot water helps clear eggs and larvae. Treating your pet alone usually isn’t enough to fully break the cycle, so home treatment matters too.
Yes. Dogs who visit dog parks, trails, or boarding facilities face higher exposure than pets that mostly stay in a fenced yard, and where you live in Miami can matter too. We build prevention plans around your pet’s actual risk rather than a generic schedule. Call (786) 885-1590 to talk through what fits your pet.
Let’s build the right prevention plan for your pet’s lifestyle and Miami’s year-round parasite season. Call (786) 885-1590 or book online to schedule a visit with Your Family Veterinarian. Our clinic is located at 16355 SW 88th Street, Miami, FL 33196 in the shopping plaza with LA Fitness and Starbucks. We’re open Monday through Friday, 9am–6pm, and Saturday, 8:30am–2pm.
