Worms, Fleas and Ticks

Protect your pet from worms, fleas and ticks

Worms

Infestation with worms can be bad for your pet's health, and some worms pose a threat to humans too. Worming should begin from an early age. Puppies and kittens can can become infected with worms even before they are born or via their mothers milk when feeding.

Cats

When you collect your kitten from the breeder they should already have been treated for worms. You should continue to treat them for worms on a monthly basis until they are 6 months old. Worming frequency may then be reduced to every 3 months and should be continued throughout adulthood. However if young children are present in the household or regularly come into contact your cat then monthly treatment is recommended long-term.

Adult cats can contract worms from the environment especially if they are keen hunters or scavengers. Cats that hunt regularly should be wormed every 4-6 weeks.

Dogs

When you collect your puppy from the breeder they should already have been treated for worms. You should continue to treat them for worms on a monthly basis lifelong to prevent round and tapeworms being passed onto humans and to prevent lungworm (see below).

Lungworm

Cases of lungworm are becoming more common. The parasite is acquired from slug/snails (purposeful/accidental ingestion). Lungworm can make your pet seriously ill and can potentially be fatal. We now recommend worming monthly throughout life in order to prevent this serious disease.

Remember regular worming is important not only for your pet's health but for you and your family’s health as it is possible for worms to be passed onto humans.

Fleas

'Prevention is better than cure.' One adult flea can lay up to 200 eggs which hatch into adult fleas in as little as two weeks. Therefore if carried into the house on your pet one flea can develop into a large flea population in a matter of weeks.

It is advisable to begin treating your pet for fleas as soon as they are brought home from the breeder and maintain regular treatments throughout their lives.

There are a number of products available to treat and prevent flea infestation. We use only tried and tested products which we trust. Our nurses provide free flea check consultations – please contact reception to arrange.

Ticks

Pets can pick up ticks all year round. They are most common in the warmer months of the year and in rural areas. Ticks can not only cause irritation and infection of the skin but can also transmit diseases to your pet.

Our routine flea treatment in dogs also treats for ticks.  Treatments are available to prevent ticks in cats too. If your pet acquires a tick and has been treated for this then the tick should fall off within 24hrs. Ticks can also be removed with specially designed tick hooks. These are designed to help remove the mouth parts of tick, which if left behind can cause infection. Ticks should not be pulled off or burnt off.

For advice on tick removal / treatment please call the practice.

To order / discuss worm or flea treatment please ring the practice on 01538 752117 (Cheadle) or 01782 385285 (Meir Park).