Worms can be picked up from the mother (either in utero or via milk), from the environment (infected stools), from eating infected prey (lizard or mouse), or, in the case of tapeworms, from fleas. If left untreated, worm infestations can be fatal. Symptoms can include diarrhoea, bloody stools, weight loss, anaemia, pot belly, dry hair and/or general poor appearance. There are various intestinal worms that can infect dogs and cats, with hook worms, round worms (ascarids), whip worms (mainly in dogs) and tapeworms being the main groups. Check with your vet as to whether it's an issue in your area, and discuss the best preventative treatment. Research conducted internationally has found moxidectin, which is found in some heartworm treatments for dogs, to be effective against lungworm, but this claim can't be made for dogs on packaging in Australia. Most dog wormers don't claim to treat lungworm, although some cat wormers do. Lungworm larvae may be present in slugs and snails, and if eaten, pets may be infected with worms that make their way to the lungs, where they block airways and make breathing difficult. An injectable slow-release heartworm medicine, which works for up to a year, is also available from your vet. Heartworm medication works by killing off the immature forms of heartworm, so it works retrospectively and must be taken continuously – most are monthly treatments, but weekly and daily treatments are available. While dogs are the natural hosts, cats can also get heartworm, and even though they're usually not as severely affected, it can still be fatal. Heartworm is a particularly nasty parasite transmitted by mosquitoes – so even indoor pets can be affected. It's a question of weighing up the risks of the medicine versus the risks of non-treatment in consultation with your vet. But ticks, and sometimes even fleas, can also make your dog very sick. Consider using a cat-safe product on your dog if you have a cat as well.įlea and tick treatments can have side effects, especially vomiting and diarrhoea. Treatments for dogs may contain permethrin-based chemicals that are poisonous for cats, so don't use them interchangeably. No tick preventative is 100% effective, so you still need to check your pet every day. Tick protection isn't necessary for all dogs and cats, and depending on where you live, may not be needed all year round – your vet can advise you on the situation in your local area. The paralysis tick occurs mainly in spring and summer in Eastern Australia, and is found in long grass and the bush. While fleas are annoying, ticks can be deadly. Your vet is best placed to know about the options that will suit your local area. In addition to your pets, you usually need to treat the whole environment, indoors and out, to get rid of them – this could be as simple as washing and vacuuming, or it may need powders and flea bombs.įlea populations can become resistant to certain chemicals. It's much easier to prevent an infestation than eradicate one, so get your control measures in place early. If the infestation is bad, you might start with a fast-acting adult flea killer, and use other measures for longer-term protection – ask your vet for advice. Some products combine chemicals to do all of the above, while some products have one or two actions.
Most dogs and cats need flea treatment – indoor cats may be an exception. Fleas also host tapeworms, infecting your pet if they eat them.
Flea bites cause discomfort and distress through itching, and some dogs and cats can develop hypersensitivity or an allergy. Or Learn more What's bugging your pet? Fleasįleas are most common in warm humid areas, and while more prolific in summer, they are found year-round in many parts of Australia.
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