Parasites
Learn about the problems parasites cause and what signs to look out for. If in doubt, don't hesitate to reach out to us for a consultation or book an appointment by calling the clinic to discuss your pet's parasite-related issues. Together, we can ensure your furry companion stays protected and happy.
The most common parasites affect pets in the Sydney area are:
- Your pet might constantly be scratching or chewing and become quite irritable.
- You might notice red, sore-looking bumps or blisters on your pet’s skin.
- If you look close enough, you might see ‘flea dirt’ – this is a flea waste product that looks like tiny little flecks of pepper.
- Sometimes, you can even see the fleas moving around themselves – tiny little brown or black wingless insects, with an incredible jump!
Flea bites are not only uncomfortable and frustrating for your pets, but they can also lead to serious wound infections, anaemia, tapeworms, and dermatitis.
What to do if your pet has been infected?
Moving swiftly is the key to flea treatment! You will need to treat:
- Every pet in your household
- Pet bedding
- Carpet
- Furniture
- Any other soft furnishings a flea or its eggs might be hiding
Paralysis ticks are particularly dangerous, as they deliver a neurotoxin into our pet’s bloodstream as they feed, leading to severe paralysis of the muscles – including the heart, proving fatal. They are particularly common on the eastern sea board, including Sydney, up to 20 km inland from the coast.
Brown dog ticks are not deadly themselves but can cause dermatitis and anaemia, as well as carry some nasty diseases, including Ehrlichiosis, which has only recently been discovered in more northern parts of Australia, and is spreading to some southern parts.
Tick best practice
- Around their head and ears
- Inside their ears
- In their mouths
- Under their tail
- Between their toes
- Underneath their collar
Ticks are sneaky and can easily latch onto many different areas on your pet.
Keeping your dog protected year-round from ticks is key – we recommend tick prevention treatments like chewable tablets, spot-on drops or tick collars. Speak to us today for our recommendation and prevent your pet from any unnecessary discomfort and illness.
Mosquitoes
Dogs, cats, rodents. and birds make for easy targets and tasty snacks for mosquitoes. While the mosquito bite itself is more annoying than threatening, mosquitoes can spread heartworm and other potentially fatal parasites to your pets. Cats can develop mosquito bite related skin allergies.
We recommend the following steps to ensure your pet remains safe from mosquitoes.
- Make sure there is no stagnant or still water around the backyard – this is where mosquito larvae grow.
- Cats with mosquito bite allergies should be brought indoors between dusk and dawn, or make sure they have a safe, meshed area to sleep in.
- Pet safe mosquito and insect repellents are available that may be used.
Heartworm and intestinal worms
The prevalence of heartworm disease is thankfully now very low in the Sydney area. However we do occasionally diagnose a positive case in dogs who have not travelled to a tropical area. It is transmitted via mosquito bites. We currently recommend ongoing heartworm protection in Sydney dogs to avoid an increase in prevalence of this nasty parasite. It can cause severe lung and pulmonary artery disease
Many different intestinal worms can affect our pets and importantly can also cause disease in humans!
Some more common worms we see are:
- Roundworm
- Hookworm
- Tapeworm
- Whipworm
Intestinal worms are more pathogenic in younger animals so it is extremely important to maintain vigilance with treatment in puppies and kittens. However as humans can be affected by dog and cat intestinal parasites, lifelong treatment is recommended.
Prevention is the best cure – by administering regular preventatives which are available in various forms and combinations with other parasite control products. Ask our team for advice on the best preventative for your pet. If your pet is unwell, please book a consultation.