Parasite Control

Worms

It’s not necessarily obvious when your pet has worms and no matter how vigilant you are, it can still happen!
There are 2 types of worms, roundworms and tapeworms and puppies and kittens are particularly at risk as they can come home with them already on board!
Some worms are zoonotic, that means that humans can harbor them and in children, this can be dangerous. They can pick them up from ingesting faeces. Our recommended worming programme begins when they are young, monthly until 6 months old and then a suggested pattern of worming every 3-4 months throughout each year.

Fleas and other ectoparasites

Of all the external parasites on pets, fleas are the most common. Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea, is the most prevalent species of flea found on both cats and dogs. An infestation of fleas is both unpleasant and potentially dangerous for pets and their owners.
A single female can lay up to 50 eggs per day and for every 5 fleas on the animal, 95 are invisible in the environment (eggs falling off the animal, existing eggs, larvae and pupae in the environment). Flea eggs fall off the coat everywhere our pet goes, leading to a massive infestation in the home environment.

A flea‘s life cycle lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a month, though under the right conditions it can continue for much longer. Warmth and central heating allow fleas to rapidly complete their lifecycle, therefore fleas can reproduce all year round.

Ticks

Wherever you live in Ireland, there is a risk that your dog could pick up ticks. Ticks can be found in long grass, parks, meadows, woodlands and kennels. They will attach to your pets skin where the coat is thin such as around the ears or close to the ground such as on the paws. Following attachment, they will engorge themselves on your dog’s blood causing their body to swell. It is during this feed that ticks can transmit disease, including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis. These diseases can be a serious risk to your pets health.

To stay on top of ectoparasite infestations, pets should be treated regularly. Being proactive about prevention is important with any health condition. Fleas and ticks can be found all year round and can multiply rapidly, so it is important to treat your pets on a regular basis – usually monthly.
Ask at reception for more information on the type of product that suits your pet.