Why are worm and flea treatments an important part of owning a pet?
Left untreated worms and fleas can harm your pet’s health, however regular worm and flea treatments can help prevent the problem from becoming more serious. In puppies and kittens, fleas can even cause fatal diseases because the fleas will often drink so much of the small animal’s blood that the animal could become fatally anaemic. Worms and fleas are also closely linked in a way because some types of flea harbour worm eggs in their gut and therefore they can aid in the continuation of the lifecycle. However, this does not mean that if you pet does not have fleas, it does not have worms, as not all worms have lifecycles that involve the flea. There are three main varieties of worms that commonly affect pets, which are roundworm, tapeworm, and lungworm.
Lungworm is becoming ever more prevalent in the United Kingdom and affecting many dogs. The condition is cause by parasitic worms which live in the heart and blood vessels of the animals. It spreads from animal to animal through larvae which are shed in the faeces of the animal that is infected. These larvae then infect slugs or snails and use them as hosts before passing back to your pet through the mouth, either by eating the slug or by licking the slime trail that has been left behind. The larvae then move to the heart, becoming adult worms on the way, and they then produce eggs which hatch and migrate into the lungs. The animal then coughs up the larvae, ingests then and sheds then it its faeces which starts the infection process all over again.
The best way to prevent lungworm and other conditions caused by worms and fleas is through preventative action. The use of worm and flea treatments can help reduce the risk of your pet becoming seriously ill.
For quality worm and flea treatments contact Beech House Veterinary Surgery today! A member of the friendly and knowledgeable team will be able to give you advice on the best worm and flea treatments to suit your pet. Beech House Veterinary Surgery are a veterinary clinic that are based in Towcester, Northamptonshire. They are an enthusiastic and friendly team who aim to give people and animals they serve the best possible care and attention. As pet owners themselves, the team are sympathetic to your needs as well as that of your pet. They understand the worry that you feel when your pet is not well, and they are more than happy to answer any of your questions about your pet’s condition. They will discuss the different worm and flea treatments that are available and help you to come to a decision regarding the way to go forward.
In addition to worm and flea treatments, Beech House Veterinary Surgery also offer a number of other services including routine health checks, puppy and kitten advice, vaccinations, neutering, pet passports, microchipping, specialist pet diets, and dental care.