Flea & Tick Prevention in North Hills, Raleigh, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills is a vet in North Hills, Raleigh, that helps dogs and cats stay on flea and tick prevention. In North Carolina's mild, humid climate, the vet usually suggests prevention every month of the year. Fleas live happily indoors through winter, and ticks come out on any warm day.

Prevention is easier than clearing a home of fleas, and it lowers the risk of tick-borne disease.

Call (984) 983-4900 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome.

Do pets in Raleigh need flea and tick prevention all year?

Yes. The clinic page for Petfolk North Hills lists tick and flea issues as common in North Carolina, and the NC Division of Public Health says Lone Star ticks, which spread ehrlichiosis, live across the state. Across Petfolk, sick visits that mention fleas or ticks roughly double in summer, about 2.3% of sick visits from June to September versus about 1.2% from December to February (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026). Lower in winter is not zero, so the vet at Petfolk North Hills suggests keeping prevention going all year.

What are the options for dogs and cats?

The vet helps you pick a product by species, weight, age and lifestyle:

• Monthly chews for dogs. Many cover fleas, ticks and heartworm in one dose. Across Petfolk, 85% of dog parasite-prevention purchases are Simparica Trio (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).

• Monthly topicals for cats. Across Petfolk, 88% of cat parasite-prevention purchases are Revolution Plus.

• Collars and other forms, for pets that can't take a chew.

Never use a dog flea product on a cat. Some dog products contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats. Ask the team which products the on-site pharmacy has for your pet.

I had an emergency with my kitten who had a really bad case of fleas and was facing severe anemia.

Deanna H., Google review

Kittens and small pets can lose enough blood to fleas to become anemic (low red blood cells). A kitten that is pale, weak or cold needs a vet the same day.

How do I check my dog for ticks?

After walks along wooded trails, at Millbrook Exchange Park or in a leafy North Hills backyard, do a quick check:

1. Run your hands slowly over your dog's whole body.

2. Look closely between toes, in and around ears, under the collar, in armpits and around the tail.

3. If you find a tick, grasp it close to the skin with fine tweezers and pull straight out with steady pressure.

4. Clean the spot and wash your hands.

5. Note the date. If your dog gets a fever, limps or acts tired in the next few weeks, tell the vet.

Spotting fleas at home

Look for scratching, especially at the base of the tail, and for flea dirt: tiny black specks that turn red when pressed on a wet paper towel. Treating a flea problem means treating every pet in the home, plus vacuuming and washing bedding. Flea eggs in carpet keep hatching for weeks.

What does flea and tick prevention cost?

Cost depends on the product and your pet's weight. Prevention is usually started at a wellness exam, which starts at $99 at Petfolk North Hills. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

Gentle care for itchy pets

Every Petfolk clinic uses Fear Free handling. Itchy pets are often uncomfortable and touchy, so the North Hills team keeps the exam calm. If fleas have caused skin infections or hot spots, see skin conditions and dermatology in North Hills.

If your pet has a severe reaction to a flea product, such as drooling, tremors or seizures, rinse the product off with dish soap and water and go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Paragon Park Road in Raleigh.

Also see heartworm prevention in North Hills.

Get prevention started

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - North Hills is at 631 E Six Forks Rd, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609. Call (984) 983-4900, book online or walk in.

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