Fleas, worms & tick prevention

Fleas are the most common external parasite found on pets.

• Flea bites cause itching and if your pet is allergic the flea saliva the itching can be intense leading to hair loss and inflammation of the skin.
• They can cause anaemia in young kittens and puppies.
• They can carry the larval stage of the tapeworm Dipylidium caninum, Cats and dogs can become infected with the tapeworm if they ingest fleas when grooming.

What should you use?

There are now a wide variety of flea prevention products available from many sources. Not all of these are effective. It can be a bit of a ‘minefield’, deciding what to use.

We have a range of very effective, safe, and easy to use flea prevention products and we can give you the best advice on flea prevention and control.

Did you know…?

• The cat flea affects both cats and dogs and can bite people too
• If you find 5 fleas on your pet, it is likely there are 95 in your home!
• The pupal stage of fleas can survive for up to 2 years in your home.
• A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs in one day
• The life cycle of the flea (i.e. the time it takes to go from an egg to an adult) can be completed in as little as 15 days

The most common worms that affect dogs and cats are Toxocara , hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.

• Toxocara is transmitted to puppies from their mother during pregnancy and then via her milk, and to kittens via their mother’s milk. The puppies and kittens then reinfect themselves by grooming and cleaning as the worm eggs they pass are sticky and will stick to their fur. The eggs will also be present in faeces and soil. These worms can cause symptoms such as a potbelly appearance, diarrhoea, vomiting, and poor growth. In severe cases, they can lead to intestinal blockages.
• Hookworms are another common type of worm in dogs and cats, and they can enter dogs and cats through ingestion or skin contact. These worms attach themselves to the intestinal lining and feed on blood, which can lead to anaemia. Symptoms of hookworm infestation include pale gums, weakness, weight loss, and haemorrhagic diarrhoea.
• Whipworms are transmitted through ingestion of soil or faeces containing whipworm eggs. In dogs they live in the large intestine and can cause symptoms like diarrhoea (sometimes with blood), weight loss, and anaemia in severe cases.
• Tapeworms of different types infect dog and cats when they eat fleas, small mammals, raw meat, eat on fallen stock in the hills (typically sheep). If you pet travels abroad it can be infected with a tapeworm called Echinococcus Multolocularis this can infect humans and cause disease. We are currently free of this tapeworm in the U.K and pets entering the U.K will be required to have treatment for tapeworms before entry. Although the timings for this are quite strict there is still a chance for you pet to become infected after treatment so we recommend further treatment for tapeworm 2 weeks after your pet returns to the UK.

Regular deworming and preventive measures, such as flea control and keeping the dog’s living environment clean are essential for managing and preventing these common worm infestations in dogs.

If you have any concerns or think your dog might have worms, contact our team at Daventry Vets straight away.

Dog owners should also be aware of lungworm in dogs – a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of the lungworm parasite. Dogs can become infected by ingesting slugs, snails, or even contaminated water or grass that contains the parasite’s larvae. Once inside the dog’s body, the larvae migrate to the lungs. causing a range of symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, weight loss, fatigue, and even bleeding disorders. Lungworm can be a serious and potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment by a vet are essential to effectively manage and prevent lungworm infection in dogs.

It is wise to avoid leaving your dog’s bowls and toys outside overnight where slugs and snails can ‘slime’ them. Slugs also eat dog poop and leave their trails on it, which some dogs like to eat…, so it’s advisable to clear your dog’s poop from your garden regularly.

Contact us to discuss lungworm prevention in dogs.

Ticks are more active during the warmer months but can pose a problem throughout the year.

Ticks can transmit many diseases.

In the UK they can transmit Lyme disease. Since the advent of pet travel to and from Europe we now have some new diseases in the UK that are spread by ticks Erlichiosis and Babesiosis (although this is in a small area).

Ticks need to be killed as soon as possible to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Please do contact us about tick protection and further guidance.