No one really likes to think about the parasites which can feed on our pets. The thought of worms crawling around inside our pet’s body and fleas and ticks sucking their blood isn’t an appealing thought. But problems with parasites are common in cats, dogs and rabbits in particular, so it’s worth understanding how to keep things under control.
Preventing problems with parasites is also going to be better for our pets than treating them when they arise. That means keeping up to date with worm, flea and tick treatment all year round is the best way to keep parasites from feeding on your pets. We always have access to the best available products for parasite prevention and treatment, and regular checks can help to ensure that they’re working effectively. It often seems like you only need to visit your us when your pets are sick or need emergency treatment, but getting us involved in routine healthcare can often nip problems in the bud and keep your pets in tip top shape.
Keeping our pets free of parasites is good for our health as well as our pets. Anyone who has lived with a pet with fleas will know how quickly they can take over the house. Carpets, furniture and even clothes can get infested with fleas and we end up itching as much as our pets do.
Worms tend to get inside our pets because they have slightly different hygiene standards to us humans! Cats which hunt and eat their prey are particularly at risk from worms, and dogs which have the horrible habit of eating feaces are also likely to get worms if they’re not on a worming treatment. Infected animals can pass on worms to people, and children are often at risk because they like to touch pets and don’t always know to wash their hands.
Ticks can latch onto us just like they do our pets, and dog owners are particularly susceptible if they spend time walking through long grass. Ticks are usually picked up in woodland and grassland areas, so pets and people who enjoy a walk in the country will probably see a tick at some point in their life. Preventative treatments make it hard for ticks to latch onto our pets, and kill the ticks before they get a good feed. This reduces the risk of ticks transmitting infectious disease, but there isn’t a similar treatment for owners that we know about!
If you would like advice or guidance about how best to protect your pet from parasites, get in touch with us at any time.
