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Cheetham House
The Drove, Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 4BA

01278 450080
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Parasitic Infections in Pets

Parasites are organisms that exist for the whole or part of their life on or in another animal. There are two types of parasites Endoparasites and Ectoparasites:

1. Endoparasites:
   • live inside the organism or animal
   • include tapeworms and roundworms in dogs and cats
2. Ectoparasite:
   • live on the surface of the organism or animal
   • Include fleas, ticks and mange mites in dogs, cats, rabbits and small mammals

Antiparasitic drugs are used to kill parasites or stop them from breeding.

Treatment of parasites is necessary to prevent disease in pets and to avoid the risk of diseases that may be transmitted to people, especially children.

Questions that the vet may ask to help with the choice of antiparasitic products for your pet:

• What sort of pet do you have?
• Have you treated the pet with other parasitic controls?
• Have parasites been found on the pet? What did they look like?
• How old is the pet?
• How is the pet housed?
• Does the pet have a mostly indoor or outdoor lifestyle?
• Does the pet have access to farmland or hill land?
• Has the pet travelled or is about to travel overseas?
• Are there any other pets in the house that also need treating?
• Are there young children in the household or visiting?
• How easy is the pet for you to treat?

Routine parasite treatment and control

The staff at the Hospital will always be happy to advise on parasite control of your pet and the vets will be able to prescribe suitable products to do so. The products we use are predominantly ‘Prescription Only Medicines’, which means they are different to what you can purchase in the shops and are very effective. Here are the common ways of preventing and treating pets:

Worming puppies and kittens

Puppies (from 2 weeks old) and kittens (from 6 weeks old) should be wormed every month until 6 months old, to treat roundworms that are commonly passed from their mothers and that can cause severe illness. Some roundworms are also a risk to humans, especially children.

Worming adult dogs and cats

Adult dogs and cats should be wormed every 3-6 months, the frequency depending upon the pets’ lifestyle, age and health. Usually a single tablet (or spot-on product in cats) is all that is needed to treat the full range of roundworms and tapeworms found in the UK.

Preventing and treating fleas in dogs, cats and rabbits

This is usually done every 1-2 months using a ‘spot-on’ product that is easily applied to the skin at the back of the pets’ neck. Other methods of treatment are also available. As the fleas you might see on the pet are only a very small part of the total number of flea eggs, larvae and adults involved in an infestation, if you see fleas it is often advisable to treat the house as well as the pet. Fleas also carry tapeworms in dogs and cats so worming at the same time as flea treatment is advised.

Preventing and treating ticks in dogs and cats

Ticks in dogs are easily prevented using a ‘spot-on’ product as above. In cats other methods such as sprays may be necessary. Sprays are also useful in killing ticks before removal, but if you are finding it difficult to remove an attached tick please telephone the Hospital.

Preventing fly strike in rabbits

Fly strike occurs when flies lay eggs around the soiled bottoms of rabbits, usually in the summer months. The eggs hatch into maggots that rapidly damage the skin. This condition is life threatening, every year we have to put rabbits ‘to sleep’ as a result of the horrible damage caused by fly strike. Fly strike can be prevented, by keeping the rabbit and hutch very clean, but this is not always enough. A sponge on product is available from the Hospital that stops maggots from developing and is recommended for all rabbits.