Parasite Control

Flea/tick prevention:

Fleas cause itching and are very irritating, especially for pets with a flea allergy - meaning the bite of 1 flea causes extreme irritation, leading to redness and hair loss particularly on the lower back. A heavy burden of fleas can be fatal to young animals due to blood loss. Fleas are easily transmitted between animals so it's important that all of your pets are protected. 

Ticks are common in Hervey Bay, including the fatal paralysis tick. It's important to search your pet daily for ticks by carefully running your fingers through their coat, noting any new lumps or bumps. If you find a tick, you can remove it at home with tweezers or you can bring your pet in to us and we can remove it for you. Either way, it's best to bring the tick to the clinic so we can identify it for you and rule out any unnecessary concern.

There are many high-quality products available in different forms, and we stock a variety of preventatives to suit your needs. Some are monthly while others last 3 and even up to 6 months. Some are chews while others are spot-on treatments. Many tick preventatives are toxic to cats - read the packaging closely before administering anything to your cat.

Proheart:

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes so all dogs are at risk. It's important to keep up to date with prevention as a lapse may mean your dog has to be tested before continuing treatment. If you find it difficult to remember monthly heartworm treatments then the annual ProHeart injection is for you! A simple injection once a year is all it takes and you don't have to worry.

Intestinal worming:

Intestinal or gut worms live in your pet's intestinal tract and suck nutrients or blood. A heavy burden can be fatal, especially for young animals. There are several ways intestinal worms can be transmitted:

• Worm eggs are shed in faeces and can survive in the ground for years. Pets pick up the eggs by walking in contaminated soil and become infected after ingesting them while cleaning themselves.
• Some worms can penetrate your pet’s skin, so can be infected after walking or laying on infected soil. 
• Fleas can carry tapeworm eggs and pets become infected after consuming an infected flea. This is why it's always recommended to worm your pet after a flea infestation.
• Pets can get worms from eating other infected animals, such as rodents.
• Some worms can also be passed from mother to offspring, either in utero or through her milk. This is why it's so important that young animals are wormed regularly. 

Puppies and kittens need to be wormed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12 weeks of age, then monthly until 6 months of age. Their mother should also be wormed at the same intervals. After that it should be done every three months at a minimum, depending on the product you're using. Look for an all wormer that covers hookworm, roundworm, whipworm and tapeworm. If your pet is a hunter who loves to chase lizards, geckos or frogs, they'll need extra prevention against tapeworm.

We stock a variety of preventatives, some of which also protect against heartworm, while others also cover fleas and ticks. Ask a member of our team about what product would suit your needs.