Parasites
For a complete parasite control programme based on your pet's lifestyle, please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment with one of the vets.
Worms
The worms that affect dogs can be broadly categorised into:
1. Roundworms:
2. Tapeworms:
It is possible for puppies to be born with gut worms as they can be passed through the placenta and milk from the mother. Throughout life your dog is then exposed to worms from their environment and so it is important to worm regularly. Weight loss, poor growth and a pot bellied appearance are just some of the symptoms of gut worm infestation. We advise the following worming regime:
Part of the life cycle of the lungworm is found in snails and slugs and so dogs who are keen scavengers are more likely to be exposed to these. Lungworm is becoming more prevalent and causes respiratory symptoms which can be severe. Routine worming products will not cover for lungworm. Please contact the surgery for more information.
Fleas
Fleas jump onto your pet and, after they have had a blood meal, lay eggs which roll off your pet's coat onto the carpet, upholstery and your pet's bedding. These eggs hatch within the environment into larvae, then mature into adult fleas which jump back onto your pet's coat and the cycle continues. Under favourable conditions this cycle takes only 12 days and as a female flea can lay 2000 eggs in her lifetime so it is easy to see how quickly an infestation can arise. Larval stages of the fleas can remain dormant for up to 140 days within your upholsteries and in fact it has been estimated that only 5% of the flea population in an infested home is found on the affected animal. It is therefore just as important to treat the environment in a flea infestation as it is to treat your pet.
Some dogs suffer from an allergic skin condition known as 'flea allergic dermatitis'. This means that they can get a severe dermatitis from one flea bite alone and so often no fleas will be found on the animal but yet they are still responsible for the irritation. Fleas can also be involved in the tapeworm life cycle as they can carry tapeworm larvae. As a dog grooms, it can ingest fleas on the coat resulting in the development of the tapeworm larvae to adult stage in the intestine.
It is therefore important to use a regular flea treatment. We can recommend a parasite prevention programme tailored to your pet's individual needs, using prescription medications for animals under our care.
Ear mites
These are common in young dogs and cause ear irritation (head shaking/scratching ears) sometimes leading to secondary bacterial/fungal infection Mites live and breed mostly within the ear canal producing dark wax to protect themselves. If you suspect your dog may have ear mites please make an appointment to see a vet.
Harvest mites
These tiny orange coloured mites appear towards harvest time at the end of summer. Many animals and people are allergic to their bites and they are a source of intense irritation. Harvest mites are picked up from grassy areas and live and feed on the surface of the skin. They are most commonly found between the digits. If you think your dog is affected please arrange an appointment with the vet.
Ticks
Ticks are traditionally most active in spring and autumn however, recent research (The Big Tick Project) has highlighted the fact that ticks are now a year round problem due to the milder winters we have been experiencing. Ticks live in the undergrowth and then climb stalks of grass heather or bracken to wait for a passing animal to attach to. Once attached they bury their mouthparts into the skin and have a meal of blood. They engorge on the blood meal over a few days and then detach. Where the tick attaches it causes irritation which can lead to skin reactions and abscesses but more worryingly they can also carry infections such as Lyme Disease.
We can recommend a parasite prevention programme tailored to your pet's individual needs, using prescription medication for animals under our care. The products we recommend have a fast kill action which means that the tick will be killed before it is able to transfer any diseases to your pet.
If you choose to pull a tick off your pet, take care that you remove the whole tick, mouth parts and all. There are specially designed tick removers available at the practice which ensure that no part of the tick is left embedded in the skin. If only part is removed then this can lead to skin infections or worse, septicaemia.
There are other parasites that your dog may come into contact with if you travel abroad. Please contact us on 01729 823538 or pop into the surgery to discuss action you should take before travelling.