Flea and worm treatment

Parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms can make a home inside your pet and rob your animal of vital nutrients, leading to poor appetite, loss of energy, serious anaemia, and even death. Puppies and kittens are especially susceptible.

Parasite infestation can be controlled and prevented. The current recommendation is that adult dogs and cats should be wormed every three months to prevent infestation.

Roundworms have also been reported as occasionally infecting children where they can cause blindness.

Most frequently treatment is given as a tablet, but more recently a spot-on has been made available for the more awkward pets. They are simple and safe to use, with a single dose pipette of the wormer applied to the skin at the back of the neck.

External parasites, including flea prevention

All pets will get fleas at one time or another.

In summer they can be picked up in the garden but once your pet brings a flea into your house it lays hundreds of eggs on its bedding and in your house.

These can persist for a long time before hatching, and as such fleas are a household problem, not only for your pet but also for the humans in the house.

Often there is no outward sign of mild infestations, especially on cats, and once you notice a problem it is usually severe. Prevention is always the best option by using regular effective household and pet treatments.

In addition if you vacuum the house first you will pick up many flea larvae and eggs which live in soft furnishings and in the carpets. Always remember to throw away your vacuum cleaner bag and replace it.

The household treatments must never be used on the animals directly and usually come in a spray form. You should always follow the instructions on the cans very carefully.

Don’t forget it is also possible to spray the vacuum cleaner brushes and inside the canister or bag to kill any fleas there.