Pet Health

Like humans, your pet's health can be influenced by its lifestyle. Find out here whether they are at risk of fleas, ticks, worms or other parasites.

It's a lifestyle thing
The life your pet leads can determine the possible parasite threat he or she faces – fleas, ticks or worms being the most common. Of course, your pet's lifestyle will vary, but being aware of the main everyday risks and taking the necessary preventative action will help keep your pet healthy.

Snug as a bug in a rug
Fleas are common parasites and if your pet shares your carpeted, centrally heated home with you, then the risk is greater. And the warmer it is, the faster fleas multiply.
Unfortunately if your dog or cat does develop fleas, then simply killing the adult fleas on your pet does not mean that the fleas will be under control.
Flea eggs, larvae and pupae could still be lurking around your home, just waiting to reach adulthood and to start your furry friend scratching all over again, so environmental control is also important. Monthly flea treatment is vital to prevent repeat infestations.
It's not just early birds that catch worms
If your dog regularly exercises in a popular dog walking area, or where foxes live, then the risk of roundworm infection is high.
An infected dog can pass thousands of roundworm eggs in its faeces that can survive for years in the soil. Other dogs pick them up in their paws or muzzle, and the infection is passed on once they are swallowed. However, the risk isn't just to other dogs, but also possibly to children and to others handling the dog.
If your cat is a hunter who catches mice and birds regularly, then it's likely they'll get a roundworm or tapeworm infection at some point in his or her life. Tapeworms use small animals like mice as intermediate hosts and their final destination is your cat's intestine.

Fleas.
See no evil...
Every dog and cat is vulnerable to becoming infested with fleas at some point in their lifetime. A recent survey found that 1 in 10 dogs and 1 in 5 cats showed signs of an active flea infestation*. Of these almost 50% of the owners were unaware of the problem.
It is important to treat fleas and try to actively prevent fleas for a variety of reasons. Not only are they a nuisance, with their bites causing irritation to pets and owners alike, but fleas can pass on infections which can affect humans such as tapeworm and cat scratch disease.
Some pets are allergic to flea bites (Flea Allergy Dermatitis) and these animals can cause considerable damage to their own skin as a result of intense itching, and therefore scratching.

The bigger picture
Many people do not realise that the fleas seen on their pets are only 5% of the whole problem. The other 95% are found in the pets’ environment at various stages of development, as eggs, larvae and pupae.
Fleas do not generally jump directly from pet to pet; instead they are usually picked up from infested environments such as parks, gardens and homes. Wherever infested animals have passed through they leave a trail of flea eggs that then develop into larvae, pupae and then new adults.

Diagnosing the problem
Identifying if your pet has fleas can be done by parting the fur around their neck or base of their tail and looking for fast moving dark brown insects about 2mm long. Alternatively it can be easier to look for flea dirt, which looks like tiny black flecks in the coat. Flea bites around your own, or your family’s ankles is highly indicative of fleas in the home and, if this is the case, unfortunately your animals will also be carrying fleas and will require flea treatment.
Ticks
Ticked off
Ticks are not only a nuisance to pets, causing irritation, local inflammation and infection, they are also second only to mosquitoes throughout the world in transmitting infectious disease to humans and animals.
Ticks are not insects, but belong to the spider family and are found in gardens, parks, woods and other rural environments. They are very active in the spring and autumn but can remain a problem throughout the summer months if weather conditions are favourable.
Sometimes too tiny to be seen, ticks attach to pets and engorge with blood, increasing their weight by up to 100 times before dropping off after 5 to 10 days. The most common places for ticks to attach to pets are around the head and particularly on the ears, this happens as the animal investigates burrows and hedgerows.
In the UK, the main diseases that ticks are responsible for transmitting are Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis. Another disease, Babesiosis, previously only seen in continental Europe has now also been identified in the south east of the UK. Although treatable these diseases can cause serious illness and occasionally death if left undiagnosed. The microbes that cause these conditions are passed from the tick to the pet during the rapid feeding phase when the tick engorges on blood. This typically occurs after the tick has been attached for 48 hours. If your animal is ill and has a known history of a tick bite this should be mentioned to your vet when he or she examines your animal.
When travelling abroad, pets can be exposed to several other tick-borne diseases including Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis. It is part of the pet travel regulations that animals coming into the UK be treated against ticks 24-48 hours prior to entry to help prevent these diseases from coming to our shores.
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Worms
Worm your way in
Not all pet problems are visible, and this is the case with worms. If your pet becomes infected, they’ll happily spend the whole of their adult lives living inside your dog or cat.
There are several species of intestinal worms that can infect cats and dogs in the UK. Some feed on the contents of the gut, scavenging in your pet’s food, and others attach themselves to the gut wall to feed on your pet’s blood. Some potentially life threatening worms live in other organs including the heart and lungs.
As well as causing serious damage to the health of your pet, some worms can infect people, giving you another reason to keep your pet worm-free using worming tablets or another treatment.
Q: Why do I have to worm my pet?
There are several reasons for regular worming:
    Routine worming helps to ensure the wellbeing of your pet
    It may be necessary to treat clinical disease arising from the presence of worms
    Regular treatment reduces environmental contamination
    Public health considerations
Q: How can I tell if my cat or dog has worms?
In the early stages of infection, it's very difficult. In dogs, mature tapeworms start shedding egg-filled segments, which irritate the dog's bottom. This causes the classic symptom of tapeworm infection, 'scooting', or dragging the bottom along the ground. Apart from this, there are few definite signs, but these may include vomiting, diarrhoea, a dull, lifeless coat, a loss of appetite, lack of energy, and, especially in puppies and kittens, a pot-bellied appearance.
Q: Can my family or I catch worms from the pet?
Certain worms are capable of being transmitted from animals to humans; such worms are said to have a 'zoonotic potential'. The dog roundworm, Toxocara canis, is probably the best known of these and human infection may occur if a person swallows the microscopic worm eggs, having picked them up from contaminated soil. Obviously, small children are at the greatest risk.
The damage to health is done by the larvae of the roundworm as they migrate through the body from the gut. They can arrive, for example, in the eye, causing permanent damage to the sight.
There has also been some speculation that T. cati, the cat roundworm, could pose a similar threat.
Q: At what age should I start worming my puppy/kitten with worming tablets?
It is quite feasible for puppies to be born with worm larvae already present, having been exposed to them while still in the bitch's womb. It is advisable, therefore, to start a worming programme at two weeks of age, and to continue worming once a fortnight until 12 weeks old. It is also advisable to treat the bitch at the same time as the pups. Once a pup reaches 12 weeks of age, it should then be treated at three monthly intervals.
By contrast, kittens are not born with worm larvae already present, so worming does not need to start until six weeks old, with further treatments every three weeks, until four months old. Thereafter, worming at three-monthly intervals should be adopted.
Q: How often should I treat my cat/dog with worming tablets?
It is advised that an adult dog or cat should be treated for worms four times a year. There may be specific instances however where more frequent worming treatment is desirable. These would include:
    worming of puppies and kittens
    cats that hunt and eat mice
    dogs and cats experiencing repeated flea problems


Q: How do I administer the wormer?
A: Drontal Plus Flavour and Drontal Cat Tablets are both sold as tablets. These may be given whole or may be concealed in food. Drontal Oral Suspension for Puppies comes as a pink suspension and is given to the puppy/young dog by means of a syringe which makes oral dosing simple. Droncit is available as an injection which your vet will administer, or as a spot-on liquid which you simply squeeze on to the back of your cat's neck.
Q: How is Drontal plus medicine different from others I can buy?
The Drontal worming treatment is highly effective; it is of such a strength that it can only be sold under the supervision of a pharmacist – it’s the equivalent of a prescription medicine for your pet.
Q: Will there be side effects, such as diarrhoea or sickness?
Certain wormers, e.g. those containing nitroscanate, may cause vomiting. In general, Drontal Plus Flavour and Drontal Cat Tablets don't have this effect, although the possibility of occasional vomiting can't be entirely ruled out.
Q: How long does the effect of a worming tablet last?
Worming preparations do not persist in the body, nor do they remain active against worms. That's why it is important to try to keep your pet away from sources of worm infection, and to implement a policy of strategic worming using an effective product.
Q: What's the connection between fleas and worms?
Fleas are often infected with the larval stage of the Flea Tapeworm. If cats or dogs swallow an infected flea, the worm develops in the gut.
Q: My pet isn't showing any symptoms so why should I worm him?
The point is that by the time symptoms are obvious your pet is already suffering. What's more, it will be spreading infection in the environment. For both reasons, it's much better to worm the animal routinely, at least every three months.
Q: My cat often catches mice. Does this make worm infection more likely?
Yes it does. Mice and other small rodents are often infected by a very common tapeworm, not surprisingly known as the Mouse Tapeworm.
Q: I am going to take my pet abroad. What do I need to do?
If you intend to take your cat or dog abroad under the PETS scheme, remember that you must have the animal treated against tapeworm and ticks before your return. The treatment must be carried out not less than 24 and not more than 48 hours before your return journey, and you must get an official certificate of treatment from the vet who carries it out.


Fleas, Ticks and Worms
ImportaTreatments to protect your cat
Q. How quickly will Frontline Spot On act to kill the fleas on my cat?
A.. Frontline Spot On spreads from the site of treatment to cover the whole surface of the pet within 24 hours. It acts to kill the fleas within 24 hours of contact and lasts for up to 5 weeks.
Q. Will it prevent new fleas from landing on my cat?
A. No, new fleas may still jump onto your pet from the environment. However, these fleas will be killed within 24 hours of arriving on your pet’s coat.
Q. Can Frontline prevent ticks from attaching to my cat?
A. No, ticks may still attach but will be killed within the first 48 hours. Once dead, ticks will often drop off your pet. Any remaining ticks may easily be removed by a gentle pull, preferably with tweezers.
Q. How can I prevent my cat from getting fleas?
A. Treating your cat all year round with Frontline Spot On, even when fleas are not seen, will minimise the chances of your cat becoming infested.
Q. Do I still need to treat the house for fleas at the same time I treat my pet?
A. Yes, fleas from pets often infest the animals basket, bedding and regular resting areas such as carpets and soft furnishings which should be treated at the start of flea control. When there is a massive infestation, it is recommended that the house is also treated with a suitable insecticide and vacuumed regularly.
Q. How does Frontline Spot On act to kill fleas, ticks and lice?
A. Frontline Spot On contains the active ingredient fipronil which is a member of the phenylpyrazole family of insecticides. It remains on the surface of the skin and acts as on contact to cause rapid death of the target parasites without the need for them to bite your pet first. Fipronil is a non-organophosphate compound.

Treatments to protect your dog
Q. Is Frontline Spot On safe to use in pregnant or nursing bitches?
A. Frontline Spot On can be used in breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches and puppies from 8 weeks of age and weighing at least 2 kg. Frontline Spray is safe to use from 2 days of age and is recommended for dogs less than 8 weeks of age and/or weighing less than 2 kg.
Q. How quickly will Frontline Spot On act to kill the fleas on my dog?
A.. It spreads rapidly from the site of treatment to cover the whole surface of the pet within 24 hours of contact and lasts for approximately 2 months.
Q. Will it prevent new fleas from landing on my dog?
A. No, new fleas may still jump onto your pet from the environment. However, these fleas will be killed within 24 hours of arriving on your pet’s coat.
Q. How often should I re-treat my dog?
A. Re-treatment with Frontline Spot On is recommended every two months for routine flea control. However, if your pet has a severe flea infestation or suffers from an allergy to flea bites, monthly treatment is recommended until the problem is under control. Monthly treatment is also recommended for the treatment or prevention of tick infestation.
Q. Will Frontline Spot On prevent ticks from attaching to my dog?
A. No, ticks may still attach but will be killed with the first 48 hours. Once dead, ticks will often drop off your pet. Any remaining ticks may easily be removed by a gentle pull, preferably with tweezers.
Q. What happens if my dog gets wet or I want to bathe him/her?
A. Bathing or shampooing the animal up to one hour prior to treatment does not affect the efficacy of the product. Frontline Spot On remains effective even after bathing, from 48 hours after treatment. Re-treatment every 5 weeks is recommended if you shampoo your dog weekly.
Q. How can I prevent my dog from getting fleas?
A. Treating your dog all year round with a flea treatment, even when fleas are not seen, will minimise the chances of your dog becoming infested.
Q. Do I still need to treat the house for fleas at the same time I treat my pet?
A. Yes, fleas from pets often infest the animals basket, bedding and regular resting areas such as carpets and soft furnishings which should be treated at the start of flea control, and when there is a massive infestation with a suitable insecticide and vacuumed regularly.
Q. How does Frontline Spot On act to kill fleas, ticks and lice?
A. Frontline Spot On contains the active ingredient fipronil which is a member of the phenylpyrazole family of insecticides. It remains on the surface of the skin and acts as on contact to cause rapid death of the target parasites without the need for them to bite your pet first. Fipronil is a non-organophosphate compound.
Fleas, Ticks and Worms.