Fleas and Worms

Fleas and worms can be passed from animal to animal, as well as to humans. It’s therefore extremely important to regularly treat your companion for parasites to prevent both them and you and your family from falling ill.

Here are some facts about fleas:

• They can have up to 50 offspring every single day, making them extremely difficult to get rid of should your companion suffer an infestation.
• They live in warm environments such as your pet’s fur, your home furnishings (such as carpets) and in grass in the warmer months.
• They survive by drinking warm blood.
• Flea saliva is an allergen which means should you or your pet get bitten, the result is a sore, red and itchy bump.
• Due to the fact they drink blood, fleas can cause fatalities in young or particularly old animals – they can also cause anaemia in rabbits.
• Symptoms of fleas include incessant scratching, subdued behaviour and brown/black specks moving around in your pet’s fur.
• Fleas often carry worm eggs which is particularly bad news if your companion swallows a flea whilst grooming.

Here are some facts about worms:

• Worms live in the intestine of their host, surviving on the nutrients there.
• There are lots of different types of worm, some of which can be fatal – for example: lungworms will migrate from the stomach through body tissue until they reach the lungs, causing respiratory problems.
• As well as causing your companion to feel unwell, fleas can cause severe problems such as liver and kidney failure.
• Symptoms of worms include: wriggling ‘grains of rice’ in your pet’s vomit and faeces, a limp, greasy coat, subdued behaviour, and possible weight loss despite a normal appetite.
• Dog owners should avoid allowing their pets to drink from communal water bowls and also from playing in ponds and rivers as frogs, snails and slugs can carry lungworm.

To find out how best to treat your companion for parasites please click here.