TORONTO, ON / AGILITYPR.NEWS / May 12, 2026 / As spring arrives and people begin spending more time outdoors with their pets, Toronto Humane Society is sharing important tips to help keep animals healthy and protected from seasonal parasites. Warmer temperatures bring blooming flowers, longer walks, and more time in parks — but they also mark the return of fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other parasites that can pose serious health risks for pets. 

The good news is that prevention is highly effective. With the right veterinary guidance and routine care, pet parents can significantly reduce the risk of parasites and help ensure their pets enjoy a safe and healthy spring season. 

“Spring is a wonderful time to get outside with your pets, but it’s also when we start to see an increase in parasites,” said Lauralee Dorst, RVT, Director, Community Animal Welfare at Toronto Humane Society. “The best thing pet parents can do is focus on prevention. Regular wellness appointments allow veterinary teams to recommend the right parasite prevention plan for each individual pet.” 

Parasites can cause a variety of health concerns. Fleas may lead to allergic skin reactions, intense itching, and tapeworm infections. Ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Heartworms, spread by mosquitoes, can damage a pet’s heart and lungs and may become life-threatening if left untreated. 

Intestinal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, can also affect pets and may cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. In some cases, pets may show few early signs of infection, making preventive care and routine veterinary checkups especially important. 

Along with veterinary care, pet parents can take simple steps at home to reduce parasite risks, including regularly grooming their pets, checking for ticks after outdoor activities, washing bedding frequently, and keeping living spaces clean. 

Toronto Humane Society offers wellness appointments through its Public Veterinary Services to help pet parents stay ahead of seasonal health concerns. These appointments include physical exams, parasite screening when needed, and guidance on appropriate flea, tick, heartworm, and deworming prevention based on a pet’s lifestyle and risk factors. 

Learn more about parasite prevention, and book appointments at www.TorontoHumaneSociety.com  

This spring, as many as 1 in 5 pets are going without the essential veterinary care they need. Donations can help make a difference. Gifts made by May 31 to Toronto Humane Society will be matched up to $18,000 thanks to a generous matching gift from the Estate of Joyce Mary Setter.