Flea & Tick Prevention in Mansfield, TX, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Mansfield is a vet in Mansfield, TX, that helps dogs and cats stay protected from fleas and ticks all year. In North Texas, there's no off season. Texas A&M AgriLife reports that ticks are active year-round in Texas, with a peak in summer, and fleas thrive in warm homes even in January.

Call (817) 241-2355, book online or walk in to start or refill prevention.

Which ticks are around Mansfield?

Two are common in this part of Texas:

• Lone star tick. Adults peak from March to May and the young ones (nymphs) from April to August, per Texas A&M. They wait in tall grass and brush along greenbelts and field edges.

• Brown dog tick. This one is different. It lives around homes and kennels, can live indoors and spreads canine ehrlichiosis, a blood infection that can cause fever, bruising and weight loss.

The clinic says ticks after time in local parks and greenbelts are among the reasons Mansfield pets come in. Across Petfolk, sick visits that mention fleas or ticks roughly doubled in summer from October 2025 through September 2026, about 2.3% from June to September versus about 1.2% in winter.

How do I choose the right prevention?

The vet helps you match a product to your pet. A few questions guide the choice:

• Dog or cat? Some dog products are toxic to cats. Never use a dog product on a cat.

• Chewable or topical? Monthly chewables are easy for most dogs. Topicals suit many cats.

• One product or two? Some chewables cover heartworm, fleas, ticks and gut worms in one dose.

• Who else lives at home? Every dog and cat in the house needs protection, or fleas keep bouncing between them.

Prevention comes from the on-site pharmacy, so you can start the same day. Texas law asks for a vet exam before a prescription, which the visit covers.

What if my pet already has fleas?

Treat the pet, the home and every other pet at once. Adult fleas you see are only a small part of the problem. Most of the population is eggs and larvae in carpet, bedding and couch cushions. Wash bedding in hot water, vacuum daily for a couple of weeks and toss the vacuum bag. Clearing a home fully often takes a few months of on-time doses.

How do I remove a tick safely?

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick tool.

2. Grab the tick close to the skin and pull straight up with steady pressure.

3. Don't twist, burn or smother it with oil.

4. Clean the spot and wash your hands.

5. Save the tick in a sealed bag in case your pet gets sick later.

Call if the spot gets red and swollen, or if your dog seems tired, limps or stops eating in the weeks after.

Mansfield rules and parasites

The City of Mansfield's animal care ordinance expects pet parents to get vet treatment for fleas, ticks and parasites. Mansfield Animal Care & Control also adopts out pets already vaccinated, microchipped and fixed, so a new shelter pet usually needs flea and tick prevention as the next step.

Cost of prevention

Cost depends on your pet's weight and the product. Ask the team for current prices. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. A wellness exam at Petfolk Mansfield starts at $99.

Fear Free, gentle handling makes skin checks easy on itchy pets.

When a bite turns serious

Sudden weakness that starts in the back legs after a tick bite, trouble breathing or collapse needs care right away. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists at 301 U.S. 287 Frontage Rd. For itchy skin that won't settle, see pet skin conditions in Mansfield.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Mansfield, or see all veterinary services in Mansfield.