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Flea, Tick and Worm Prevention

TICKS

With a replication rate of up to 50 eggs per day per flea living on your pet, prevention is much better than having to deal with fleas once they are present. If your dog has fleas, your house has fleas! NB. All animals in the household must be treated for FLEA control to be effective!! (all dogs and all cats).

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Paralysis ticks are a life-threatening problem all year round.

Animals spending time in bushy areas are at higher risk, but BACKYARD dogs can also pick up ticks dropped by suburban wildlife. Chemical preventatives do not

replace checking your dog over by hand after they have been outdoors. SIGNS of tick paralysis include:

  • Wobbly back legs

  • Change in voice

  • Coughing

  • Gagging

  • Vomiting

  • Depression

  • Total collapse

Seek veterinary attention immediately if your dog is showing any of these signs!

 

We recommend combined tick and flea control:

  1. NEXGARD – A once a month chewable tick and flea prevention (Or Nexgard Spectra)

  2. ‘BRAVECTO’ is a chew given every 3 months for tick and flea prevention, or a spot-on Bravecto which lasts 6 months.

  3. There is a new, revolutionary flea and paralysis tick prevention option for dogs—one easy injection that provides full-year protection for dogs 6 months and older. This innovative treatment can be conveniently scheduled with your dog’s annual vaccinations and heartworm injection, making it a hassle-free solution for pet owners. In Brisbane’s warm, humid climate, flea control is essential as infestations can quickly become difficult to manage. Year-round prevention is the best way to protect your dog from fleas and ticks. Pair this long-lasting treatment with daily tick checks to ensure your pet stays healthy and safe from tick-borne diseases. Contact us today to learn more about this powerful protection option.

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HEARTWORM PREVENTION

Heartworm is a parasite that is transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes and then moves to the heart and lungs, eventually causing death by heart failure. Heartworm IS diagnosed in Brisbane and all pups should start prevention at 6-12 weeks of age, and remain on prevention for life. There are a number of preventatives available:

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  1. Proheart injection – Yearly heartworm prevention. First given at 12 weeks of age, then at 6 months, then 15 months old (usually coincides with annual vaccination). Then once per year for life in adult dogs.

  2. Nexgard Spectra (must be given EVERY month, a lapse in treatment puts your dog at risk!) Covers heartworm, hookworm, round worm, whipworm, fleas and paralysis ticks. Does NOT cover tapeworm and this must be given separately.

  3. Other options (which must be given or applied EVERY) month: Milpro, Interceptor, Sentinel, Revolution

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CAT PARASITE PREVENTION

There are many different products available, that cover various parasites. More information about each of the parasites is below, but here is a summary of the simplest combination of products to cover intestinal worms, heartworm, fleas and ticks: 

  1. For kittens under 12 weeks, worm with an oral wormer such as Milpro, every fortnight from 2 to 12 weeks of age.

  2. For adult, indoor cats that don’t need tick prevention: Revolution monthly + Popantel (tape wormer) every 3 months.

  3. For adult, outdoor cats: Bravecto Plus every 2 months or Nexgard Spectra monthly (covering ticks, fleas and heartworm), + Drontal or Milpro wormer for intestinal worms every 3 months. Hunting cats, including indoor cats that eat geckos, may need additional tapeworm cover for Spirometra every 3 months.

 

Hunting cats, including indoor cats that eat geckos, may need additional tapeworm cover for Spirometra every 3 months.

INTESTINAL WORMING

Intestinal worms can cause serious problems, and puppies are especially at risk. When worm burdens become high we can see diarrhoea, vomiting, pot-belly, weight loss, anaemia, scooting, severe intestinal complications and even death.

 

What should your pup be wormed against? Roundworm, Hookworm, Tapeworm (including hydatids) and Whipworm. These can all be spread to people especially children so it is very important to prevent infestation.

 

When? Worm every fortnight from 2 to 12 weeks of age, then monthly up to 6 months of age, then every three months for life. If there are young children in the family, it may be advisable to worm the dog monthly. We recommend Drontal or Milpro, or Nexgard Spectra, with Popantel for tapeworms.

Please note that 3-monthly intestinal wormers do not cover heartworm.

FLEAS

Only 5% of fleas live on your pet, 95% live in the environment! Fleas can be spread to your house or yard by roaming cats or even possums.  It is very important to keep up a continuous flea prevention regime, or you may find you have a flea infestation.


Note that ALL animals in the household must be treated for control to be effective. There are many flea control products available but some older products are not as effective, so please schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained vets to learn about the best options. The best products combine flea and tick control.

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