Upton-upon-Severn 01684 592606
Lower Wick 01905 422294

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Parasite Prevention

Information on those little pests

Flea and Ticks

Fleas
No one likes fleas as their bite can be very annoying to both owners and their pets causing the animal to become irritated and start scratching. Female fleas can lay 40 to 50 eggs per day, usually on the host, although as these multiply they can roll off onto surrounding areas and therefore it is much easier to prevent an infestation rather than treat the pet and house afterwards. Remember 95% of a flea population during an infestation is not on the pet but in your home!

Not only that but the skin condition Flea Allergic Dermatitis can be very sore and expensive to treat. As well as being irritable, flea larva can be infected with tapeworm eggs and if eaten by your pet they can become a host to the parasite. The rabbit disease Myxomatosis can also be spread by fleas. Prevention is better than a cure!

Ticks
Ticks are small arachnids who satisfy their nutritional requirements on a diet of blood. They are vectors for a number of diseases including Lyme Disease, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis which can be passed on within 48 hours. Ticks will also attach themselves to humans and potentially pass on these diseases.

Ticks are more active during warmer weather and in areas with woods, bushes, high grass or leaf litter. They are also more common in areas populated with sheep and deer. Pets should be checked regularly during the summer months especially if they frequent areas listed above. If you do find a tick on your pet it will need to be removed, this can easily and safely be done using a tick remover which can be picked up at all our branches.

What products should I use to treat my pet against fleas and ticks?
The choice of product and route of administration will depend on the circumstances of the client and pet. We stock a number of products including spot-ons, tablets, sprays and collars to prevent an infestation of fleas and ticks. The products we stock are 'prescription only' and require pets to be examined yearly.

Routine flea and tick treatment is provided as part of our Pet Health Club which provides a routine health plan at exceptional value.

Worms

Animals may be carrying large numbers of parasitic worms in their stomach or intestines without showing any symptoms. Infective stages of the common parasites survive for a long time in the environment and after treatment re-infection occurs frequently. Although some animals may show no signs of infection the symptoms can range from general ill-health with a dull coat, occasional vomiting through to anaemia, intestinal obstruction and death. Some worms are also transmissible to humans. It is therefore important to carry out routine treatment against the most common worms.

Roundworms
Infection occurs through ingestion of eggs in the environment eg. eating faeces, grass or from grooming another animal and is transmissible from mother to offspring in milk.  Ingestion of the eggs by humans can lead to potentially serious conditions including blindness so regular worming of pets and good hand hygiene is essential to reduce risk.

Tapeworms
There are a number of different types and can be transferred by fleas and eaten in raw meat.

Hookworm
These enter the host through ingestion of infective larvae or penetration of the larvae through the skin.

Whipworm
These affect dogs and are ingested in faeces.

Lungworm 
These are contracted through the ingestion of slugs and snails.

Heartworm
As this uses the mosquito for transmission it is not seen in the UK but it is necessary to ensure that any pet travelling abroad is protected.

There are many products available for the treatment against worm infestation and the choice of product and route of administration will depend on the circumstances of the client and pet. We stock a number of products including tablets, oral liquid or spot ons. The products we stock are 'prescription only' and require pets to be examined yearly.

Routine worming treatment is provided as part of our Pet Health Club which provides a routine health plan at exceptional value.