What are preventatives?

Preventatives cover a wide variety of unwanted infestations of fleas, worms, ticks, mites, and heartworm. Some intestinal worms can be zoonotic – which means humans are susceptible to becoming infected as well. It is always good practice to wash your hands after playing with your pet or cleaning up faeces or urine. Avoid letting your pet lick your face.

Some parasites can be very tricky to get rid of, so preventing them is always the best practice. Parasites can also be fatal in some cases.

What do preventatives cover?

 Not all preventatives will cover the same parasites as others. It is best to ensure your pet is completely covered with a high-quality product. If you are unsure what product is best for your pet, please ask one of our friendly nurses or vets to discuss the options.

-        Worms can live and grow inside our puppies from various hosts and sources – worms that our puppy can get are whipworm, tapeworm, roundworm, lungworm, and heartworm.

-        Fleas can spread from not only pet to pet – but from the environment as well. 95% of fleas live in the environment, so it is important to clean all bedding and carpet, moving furniture to clean under it.

-        Mites are so small they can only be seen using a microscope. It is important to look for the signs of mites rather than the mites themselves. Get your Vet to check for mites if you are concerned. They can cause hair loss, irritation, redness to the skin and itching.

-        There are two types of ticks that are common in Australia – the brown dog tick and the paralysis tick. Ticks are luckily not common in Victoria, but it is very important to cover our puppies to be safe – especially if travelling interstate. Ticks can be fatal.

Whipworm: Whipworm eggs are ingested and live in the intestinal tract. The eggs can live up to 5 years in the environment. Signs of whipworm include chronic diarrhea, bloating and an itchy bottom.

Roundworm: Roundworm is spread by consuming infected feces of other canines or other animals. Roundworms can affect the growth development in puppies by consuming vital nutrients from the animal. Common signs include stunted growth, diarrhea, and bloated abdomen.

Flea tapeworm - This tapeworm comes from fleas which then pass onto the host. Preventing fleas will prevent the tapeworm from being contracted from the flea.

Hydatid tapeworm – This tapeworm comes from ingesting raw meats and offal (organs) which contain tapeworm larvae and/or eggs. Tapeworm can affect the liver (most common), kidneys, brain and lungs. Signs of tapeworm include diarrhea, bloated abdomen, anemia, weight loss and weakness.

Hookworm: Hookworms are another intestinal parasite that use their mouths to “hook” onto the intestinal wall to consume blood. They are microscopic, so cannot be seen without a microscope. Puppies can get hookworm through their mother’s placenta and through their milk. Common signs include anemia, pale gums, weakness, bloody diarrhea and growth stunt.

Heartworm: Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes and they infest the heart, blood vessels and lungs. Heartworm can cause heart failure, which is fatal. Common signs include weight loss, trouble breathing and coughing and enlarged abdomen. Heartworm is not seen in puppies under 6 months of age, as it can take 6 – 7 months for the worms to mature.

Fleas – A flea infestation can start from one pet bringing fleas into the environment. Only a few fleas can lead to an infestation to the environment. Fleas can jump from pet to pet, but they generally like to stick to their host. The female flea can lay from 4 – 8 fleas at once, every 4 – 6 hours. This is just ONE flea, imagine if the animal has an infestation of fleas?

Fleas can cause anemia in dogs and cats if the host has an infestation, causing excessive blood loss. This can be fatal in serious cases. It is important to check your animal regularly and use a preventative ongoing to ensure they are protected. Cleaning the environment thoroughly alongside this.

Brown dog tick: The brown dog tick can cause skin irritation and anemia from excessive blood loss in extreme cases. Ticks can transfer potentially fatal infections from one dog to another through bacteria. Ticks must be removed SAFELY – this can be done by a Vet to ensure no body parts are left in the skin.

Paralysis tick: If you find a paralysis tick on your pet – go to the emergency vet immediately. Paralysis ticks are fatal. Some signs include – paralysis, difficulty breathing, collapse, wobbly back legs, vomiting or reaching.