As a pet-owner, you love your companion and want to look after them. But could you be looking after additional critters unintentionally?
Fleas and worms are the most common parasites that affect your pet. As parasites, they survive by feeding on your pet’s vital nutrients. Sometimes these parasites can cause disease in your pet, as carriers of infectious diseases, or causing tissue damage where they bite, or simply through causing malnutrition. It may not just be your pet who is badly affected by parasites; a flea infestation in your home can be particularly unpleasant for you and your family.
Fleas
Fleas are small insects, renowned for their ability to jump great distances. This makes them especially skilled at transferring from animal to animal.
Fleas are blood-sucking parasites, which can create considerable discomfort for your pet. Additionally, if the fleas have an infection from a previous host, they can transmit this to your pet too. It is for this reason that preventative care against fleas is extremely important.
Here at Wellpets, we stock a range of different prescription licenced products for flea prevention. Products are available in oral, spot-on, and injection formulations. Our team are more than happy to discuss the options that are available for you.
Worms
Unlike fleas, worms live inside your pet. For this reason, it can be more difficult to tell if your pet has an infestation, which can prove especially hazardous.
The most common types of worm live inside your pet’s intestine, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Your pet could also suffer with lungworms, which live inside the lungs and cause problems such as coughing and internal bleeding.
The earlier the diagnosis of an infestation, the less damage the parasite will cause to your pet. Symptoms include:
- Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Swollen or bloated stomach
- Low energy
- A dull coat
- Weight loss despite an increased appetite
- Small ‘grains of rice’ in your pets faeces
Here at Wellpets, we stock a range of different prescription products for worm control. Our team can prescribe an effective worming product, which may be a tablet or spot-on treatment.