Worming is one of the first health care issues pet owners need to address as pups and kittens are the most susceptible. As their name suggests, intestinal and heart worms are parasites that live inside your pet. These worms range in size from small to surprisingly large (up to 18cm in length). Regardless of their size however, they all have negative, and potentially deadly effects.

Most species of animal, as well as humans, can be infected with worms including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, fish, birds and reptiles. Thankfully, worms are easy to prevent when part of your pet health care routine.

Puppies and kittens need to be wormed every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then every month until 6 months of age. After six months of age an adult needs to be wormed every 3 months. However, we do recommend worming your pet monthly if they go out and about a lot.

Many different worms can affect our pets! Some species are not exclusive to cats and dogs, but rodents, birds, and reptiles too. Some more common worms we see are:

• Roundworm
• Hookworm
• Tapeworm
• Whipworm
• Heartworm

These worms can be transmitted in several ways, including:

• Coming into contact with (or eating) soil, grass, or faeces containing larvae or eggs,
• Coming into direct contact with an infected animal
• Transmitted in-utero or through milk fed to babies
• Via insects, such as mosquitoes and fleas

Symptoms associated with worm infestations can include:

• Diarrhoea
• Bloody stools
• Anaemia
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Visible worms – either in stools or around the anus
• Lung disease

Prevention is the best cure – by administering regular preventatives which are available in various forms and combinations with other parasite control products. Ask our team for advice on the best preventative for your pet. If your pet is unwell, please book a consultation.

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the heart of dogs. Mosquitoes transmit the disease to dogs by injecting tiny heartworm larvae into their skin. The larvae develop in the tissues and migrate to the heart where they grow into adult worms. The good news is that heartworm is preventable.Simple, year-round heartworm prevention is available from your vet to protect your dog all year long against deadly heartworm disease. Heartworm prevention can conveniently be administered by your vet at your dog’s annual health check

ProHeart SR12 – NexGardSpectra®️ Injection is a once-a-year product for the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs. Its sustained-release formula ensures a full 12 months protection from a single dose administered by your veterinarian. The once a year injection provides the following benefits:-

• eliminates the need to remember monthly heartworm tablets
• you will receive ONE yearly reminder for your pet’s booster vaccination
• it can safely be combined with your pet’s vaccination or annual check-up
• the injection is quick

When can your dog receive once a year heartworm prevention?

We can administer an injection from the age of 3 months of age. This will be followed by a booster at 6 months of age and then a yearly booster for life.

If your adult dog is not receiving any form of monthly heartworm protection or has had a break in prevention, he/she may require testing. Our veterinarian will discuss this with you prior to administering the injection.

Can your dog change from monthly heartworm treatment to the yearly injection?

If your dog is already receiving monthly heartworm protection, you can swap immediately to the once a year injection.

The main tick of concern for pet owners is the Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus) as it can cause paralysis and death within 2-4 days of attachment. Whilst Paralysis Ticks occur naturally only in certain geographic areas (mainly along the coastal eastern seaboard of Australia) they can attach to pets who visit these areas during the warmer months, particularly if they are allowed to run through scrub. Ticks may also hitch a ride back with you or a neighbour in cars, rugs, towels or plants.

If you notice a tick on a pet that is not displaying signs of tick paralysis, remove the tick straight away.

How to remove a tick:
To do this, grasp the tick firmly where it attaches to your pet’s skin and give a quick sideways pull. It is better not to try and kill the tick first as the dying tick may inject more of its potent toxin into your pet. If you are not confident removing the tick please call us immediately to make an appointment to have it removed. Once the tick is removed your pet should be kept cool and quiet whilst being closely monitored for 24 hours.

Signs of Tick Paralysis:
If your pet starts to display any signs of tick paralysis, such as vomiting, weakness, staggering, breathing difficulty, or altered bark, seek immediate veterinary attention as this is a genuine veterinary emergency. If your pet is showing any of the above signs, do not offer food or water as these may be accidentally inhaled in tick-affected dogs.

As the weather warms up, we start to see more parasite problems for all sorts of pets.
Here are some of the more common parasites we come across, as well as some information on the problems they cause and how to get rid of them.

Fleas are relatively easy to spot, and if not, your pet will let you know! Look out for these clues:

• Your pet might constantly be scratching or chewing and become quite irritable.
• You might notice red, sore-looking bumps or blisters on your pet’s skin.
• If you look close enough, you might see ‘flea dirt’ – this is a flea waste product that looks like tiny little flecks of pepper.
• Sometimes, you can even see the fleas moving around themselves – tiny little brown or black wingless insects, with an incredible jump!

Flea bites are not only uncomfortable and frustrating for your pets, but they can also lead to serious wound infections, anaemia, tapeworms, and dermatitis.
Moving swiftly is the key to flea treatment! You will need to treat:

• Every pet in your household
• Pet bedding
• Carpet
• Furniture
• Any other soft furnishings a flea or its eggs might be hiding

In clinic, we offer a wide range of products and tools to treat your pet for fleas, and we can offer some very helpful tips for dealing with an outbreak. Give us a call if you have any questions, or book online to organise an appointment.

Only 5% of fleas are found on the host. Therefore 95% of fleas are living in the environment (bedding, carpet, floorboards etc). Remember to treat the environment as well as each animal in the household simultaneously

Ticks can be found in every state of Australia. There are many different species of ticks, and some pose a significant threat to the wellbeing of our pets. The most common species that affect our pets are the paralysis tick, the bush tick, the cattle tick, and the brown dog tick.

• Paralysis ticks are particularly dangerous, as they deliver a neurotoxin into our pet’s bloodstream as they feed, leading to severe paralysis of the muscles – including the heart, proving fatal.
• Brown dog ticks are not deadly themselves but can cause dermatitis and anaemia, as well as carry some nasty diseases, including Ehrlichiosis, which has only recently been discovered in more northern parts of Australia, and is spreading to some southern parts.

The best practice is to regularly check your dog for ticks after being outside – run your fingers through their coats to feel for any unusual lumps on their skin. Be sure to check over your pets’ entire body, especially:

• Around their head and ears
• Inside their ears
• In their mouths
• Under their tail
• Between their toes
• Underneath their collar

Ticks are sneaky and can easily latch on to many different areas on your pet.

If you come across a tick, be sure to give us a call to organise its removal as soon as possible – it is vital to act quickly and we will ensure to remove all of the tick – even a small part leftover can continue to cause problems for your furry friend.

Keeping your dog protected year-round from ticks is key – we recommend tick prevention treatments like spot-on drops or tick collars. Speak to us today for our recommendation and prevent your pet from any unnecessary discomfort and illness.

Dogs, cats, rodents. and birds make for easy targets and tasty snacks for mosquitoes. While the mosquito bite itself is more annoying than threatening, mosquitoes can spread heartworm and other potentially fatal parasites to your pets.

We recommend making sure there is no stagnant or still water around the backyard – this is where mosquito larvae grow. If possible, bring your pets indoors between dusk and dawn, or make sure they have a safe, meshed area to sleep in. Pet safe mosquito and insect repellents are available that may be used. Speak to us if you have any concerns about mozzies in your area.

Giardia is a lesser-known parasite that is surprisingly common. It is a microscopic protozoan that can infect humans, dogs, and cats.
Giardia contaminates bodies of water – it can be ingested by your pet when drinking or having a swim, this is why we see cases of giardia infection more often in the warmer months. Signs your pet may be infected include:

• Chronic diarrhoea
• Reduced activity
• Sudden or inexplicable weight loss
• Bloody stools

Giardia is not usually life-threatening, but it is important to treat as your pet will feel unwell.
Give us a call or book an appointment if you think your pet may have giardia, it can be easily treated with after diagnosis.

If you have any concerns about parasites and your pet, give us a call on 02 4392 8822 to organise a consultation or book online to discuss these with your vet.