Flea & Tick Prevention in Sandy Springs, GA, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is a vet in Sandy Springs, GA, that prescribes flea and tick prevention for dogs and cats. In this climate, the vet recommends a monthly product all year, because fleas thrive indoors and ticks are active on warm winter days.

Fleas cause itching, skin infections and tapeworms. Ticks can spread diseases like Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis. Prevention stops both before they start.

Call (678) 673-3977 or book online.

Where do Sandy Springs pets pick up ticks?

Ticks wait in tall grass, leaf litter and brush at the edge of trails. At Petfolk Sandy Springs, the vet sees them most on dogs who walk the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area trails, wooded neighborhood paths and creek banks. The National Park Service requires dogs on a 6-foot or shorter leash in the recreation area, which also helps keep them out of tick-heavy brush. The renovated Morgan Falls Dog Park, which reopened in October 2026, brings many dogs together, and fleas spread easily between them.

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 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026).

Which flea and tick product is best for my pet?

The vet at Petfolk Sandy Springs picks a product by species, weight, age and lifestyle:

• Dogs: monthly chewables are the most common choice. Across Petfolk, 85% of dog parasite-prevention purchases are Simparica Trio, which also covers heartworm and some intestinal worms.

• Cats: monthly topicals are easiest for many cats. Across Petfolk, 88% of cat prevention purchases are Revolution Plus, which covers fleas, ticks, ear mites, heartworm and some worms.

• Homes with both: some dog flea products are toxic to cats. Never use a dog product on a cat, and ask the vet before using any store product.

Buying through the clinic's on-site pharmacy means the right product and the right dose for your pet's weight.

Do indoor cats need flea prevention?

Often, yes. At Petfolk Sandy Springs, the vet recommends it for indoor cats who live with dogs, and for cats in homes where fleas have been found before. Fleas ride in on dogs, people and other pets, and one flea can start an indoor infestation in weeks.

How to check for ticks after a walk

1. Run your hands over your dog's body, slowly, feeling for small bumps.

2. Check between toes, around ears, under the collar, in the armpits and near 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. Save it in a sealed bag in case your pet gets sick later.

5. Wash the spot and your hands.

Getting rid of fleas at home

If you see fleas, treat every pet in the home, not just the itchy one. Wash bedding in hot water, vacuum floors and furniture daily for a few weeks, and keep giving prevention on schedule. It can take two to three months to break the flea life cycle. Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, so a flea-bitten, itchy pet gets a gentle exam.

What does flea and tick prevention cost?

Cost depends on the product and your pet's weight. At Petfolk Sandy Springs you'll get an estimate before any test or treatment, and the final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. PetfolkCare, which starts at $199 a year, includes savings on every visit; ask the team what it covers.

Reactions or a very sick pet

Mild itching where a topical was applied can happen. If your pet trembles, drools heavily, has a seizure or can't walk after a product, wash off any topical with dish soap and call right away, or go to a 24-hour emergency hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Abernathy Rd NE.

Refill or start prevention

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Sandy Springs is at 6223 Roswell Rd, 365A, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Call (678) 673-3977. Itchy already? See pet skin conditions and dermatology.

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