The Ark Veterinary Practice
41 Connaught Road, Fleet, , GU51 3LR United Kingdom
Tel: 01252 616 185
In dogs and cats fleas are the most common ectoparasite found. An ectoparasite is an organism that lives on the surface of the host and feeds from it.
In order to survive and breed an adult flea feeds on the blood of our pet, (and occasionally us).
The most common sign of a flea infestation is the adult fleas that can be seen moving throughout our pets fur, or the flea dirt often left upon surfaces as they have passed (flea dirt will turn a reddish brown when in contact with a damp cloth).
However, the above indicators only represent 5% of the total flea population present. Immature fleas i.e., eggs larvae and pupae make up the other 95% and are distributed throughout our environment for e.g.. carpets, bedding, rugs etc.
Based on this information, it is imperative to treat the environment as well as our pets.
Interesting facts and figures
We offer a wide range of products and literature at each of our surgeries. Please ring, fax or e-mail us for further information.
A World Of Worms
Worms can infest your pet without you realising it.
Very young or old animals that are infested, or animals with heavy worm burdens may be unwell. They can have a poor coat, lose weight, become lethargic and have bloated abdomens. They can suffer diarrhoea and vomiting, pneumonia and even life threatening intestinal obstructions. Young, otherwise healthy animals with just a few worms may not show any outward ill effects. However these animals are reservoirs of infection allowing worms to continue their life cycle and pass eggs, contaminating the environment, infecting other dogs and cats, posing a public health risk.
There are 2 main classes of worms that infect dogs and cats.
Roundworms include Ascarids, Hookworm and whipworms. The most common are the toxocara species. The adult worm live in the gut of the host animal and pass eggs which are shed into the environment in the animals faeces. Pets will ingest these eggs when they are sniffing about where other cats and dogs have been. They can also ingest eggs if they eat earthworms, birds or mice that are harbouring the larvae. Once the egg is swallowed it will hatch into a larva which burrows through the wall of the gut and migrates around the body of the host going through several stages of development as it does. In pregnant bitches these migrating larvae will cross the placenta and infect unborn puppies, hence the reason why it is said that all puppies are "born with worms". The matured larvae eventually end up back in the gut as adult worms which will lay more eggs and so the whole cycle starts again. This cycle can take only 3 weeks to complete so it is possible for many eggs to build up in the environment very quickly. Nursing bitches and queens will pass the larvae to puppies and kittens by their milk and also will be re- infected themselves when they are licking their puppies and kittens to clean them.
It is these migrating larvae of the dog roundworm( Toxocara Canis) that pose a public health risk. If children ingest the eggs then they can hatch and start migrating around the body as they would in a dog. In most cases this wouldn't cause a problem and the human immune system can easily deal with them, but occasionally the larvae can migrate to the eye and cause blindness . This is why it is very important to worm dogs regularly to stop them from passing worm eggs and also to clear up dog faeces especially from public places.
Roundworm eggs are very tough and can survive in the environment for several years.
Tapeworms are the other main class of worms affecting pets. Their lifecycle is different to the roundworms. The adult worms live in the small intestine and grow up to 5 metres in length. Tapeworms cannot be passed directly from one animal to another but have to develop in another 'intermediate' host. The flea tapeworm, as its name suggests, develops in the fleas which live on dogs and cats . The adult worm in the small intestine will pass small egg packets that look like grains of rice . These can be seen moving and are found around the fur on a pets bottom, in the litter tray or where they sleep. These egg packets dry out and release hundreds of microscopic eggs which are eaten by flea larvae in the environment. When infected flea larvae hatches into an adult flea it is infected with an immature tapeworm. Dogs and cats, whilst they are grooming themselves , will swallow some of the fleas and then the tapeworm will be released from the flea and grow to adult size in the animals gut. Within 3 weeks it can be shedding egg packets of its own. Other species of tapeworm will develop inside mice and rabbits and so cats that hunt are particularly susceptible to tapeworm infections.
In order to control tapeworm it is necessary to worm cats and dogs regularly and to control fleas too.
There are various ways of worming pets. Tablets, liquids, pastes and granules are the usual way wormers are administered. Most preparations are dosed according to bodyweight so it is helpful to know your pets approximate weight when buying medication. Some preparations are one-off, all-in-one doses that will eliminate all commonly found worms. Other preparations require that a course of treatment be followed sometimes with 2 different types of tablet.
There is an injection and a spot on preparation available to treat tapeworm and spot-on for roundworm.
We recommend that adult dogs and cats are wormed every 3-4 months but they can be done in the interim if they are exposed to a lot of worms or are seen to be passing any. Cats are notorious for not taking tablets so if your cat is one of these then a nurse appointment can be booked at the surgery so that the wormer can be administered there free of charge. Failing that we can advise you on alternative methods of worming.
Puppies and kittens should be wormed every 2 weeks from about 2 weeks of age until they are 12 weeks old. Then they should be wormed monthly until 6 months old. There are special worming preparations suitable for very young puppies and kittens and it is particularly important that they be weighed to calculate a dose.
Please phone the surgery to discuss your pets specific worming requirements. The nurses and vets will be happy to advise you.
The Ark Veterinary Practice
41 Connaught Road, Fleet, , GU51 3LR United Kingdom
Tel: 01252 616 185
41 Connaught Road, Fleet, , GU51 3LR United Kingdom
Tel: 01252 616 185
Flea Control And Worming
Fleas The Lo-DownIn dogs and cats fleas are the most common ectoparasite found. An ectoparasite is an organism that lives on the surface of the host and feeds from it.
In order to survive and breed an adult flea feeds on the blood of our pet, (and occasionally us).
The most common sign of a flea infestation is the adult fleas that can be seen moving throughout our pets fur, or the flea dirt often left upon surfaces as they have passed (flea dirt will turn a reddish brown when in contact with a damp cloth).
However, the above indicators only represent 5% of the total flea population present. Immature fleas i.e., eggs larvae and pupae make up the other 95% and are distributed throughout our environment for e.g.. carpets, bedding, rugs etc.
Based on this information, it is imperative to treat the environment as well as our pets.
Interesting facts and figures
- A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day
- As many as 1,500 eggs can be laid in an adult fleas lifetime
- Fleas can live for at least 4 months if not treated or eaten by the host
We offer a wide range of products and literature at each of our surgeries. Please ring, fax or e-mail us for further information.
A World Of Worms
Worms can infest your pet without you realising it.
Very young or old animals that are infested, or animals with heavy worm burdens may be unwell. They can have a poor coat, lose weight, become lethargic and have bloated abdomens. They can suffer diarrhoea and vomiting, pneumonia and even life threatening intestinal obstructions. Young, otherwise healthy animals with just a few worms may not show any outward ill effects. However these animals are reservoirs of infection allowing worms to continue their life cycle and pass eggs, contaminating the environment, infecting other dogs and cats, posing a public health risk.
There are 2 main classes of worms that infect dogs and cats.
Roundworms include Ascarids, Hookworm and whipworms. The most common are the toxocara species. The adult worm live in the gut of the host animal and pass eggs which are shed into the environment in the animals faeces. Pets will ingest these eggs when they are sniffing about where other cats and dogs have been. They can also ingest eggs if they eat earthworms, birds or mice that are harbouring the larvae. Once the egg is swallowed it will hatch into a larva which burrows through the wall of the gut and migrates around the body of the host going through several stages of development as it does. In pregnant bitches these migrating larvae will cross the placenta and infect unborn puppies, hence the reason why it is said that all puppies are "born with worms". The matured larvae eventually end up back in the gut as adult worms which will lay more eggs and so the whole cycle starts again. This cycle can take only 3 weeks to complete so it is possible for many eggs to build up in the environment very quickly. Nursing bitches and queens will pass the larvae to puppies and kittens by their milk and also will be re- infected themselves when they are licking their puppies and kittens to clean them.
It is these migrating larvae of the dog roundworm( Toxocara Canis) that pose a public health risk. If children ingest the eggs then they can hatch and start migrating around the body as they would in a dog. In most cases this wouldn't cause a problem and the human immune system can easily deal with them, but occasionally the larvae can migrate to the eye and cause blindness . This is why it is very important to worm dogs regularly to stop them from passing worm eggs and also to clear up dog faeces especially from public places.
Roundworm eggs are very tough and can survive in the environment for several years.
Tapeworms are the other main class of worms affecting pets. Their lifecycle is different to the roundworms. The adult worms live in the small intestine and grow up to 5 metres in length. Tapeworms cannot be passed directly from one animal to another but have to develop in another 'intermediate' host. The flea tapeworm, as its name suggests, develops in the fleas which live on dogs and cats . The adult worm in the small intestine will pass small egg packets that look like grains of rice . These can be seen moving and are found around the fur on a pets bottom, in the litter tray or where they sleep. These egg packets dry out and release hundreds of microscopic eggs which are eaten by flea larvae in the environment. When infected flea larvae hatches into an adult flea it is infected with an immature tapeworm. Dogs and cats, whilst they are grooming themselves , will swallow some of the fleas and then the tapeworm will be released from the flea and grow to adult size in the animals gut. Within 3 weeks it can be shedding egg packets of its own. Other species of tapeworm will develop inside mice and rabbits and so cats that hunt are particularly susceptible to tapeworm infections.
In order to control tapeworm it is necessary to worm cats and dogs regularly and to control fleas too.
There are various ways of worming pets. Tablets, liquids, pastes and granules are the usual way wormers are administered. Most preparations are dosed according to bodyweight so it is helpful to know your pets approximate weight when buying medication. Some preparations are one-off, all-in-one doses that will eliminate all commonly found worms. Other preparations require that a course of treatment be followed sometimes with 2 different types of tablet.
There is an injection and a spot on preparation available to treat tapeworm and spot-on for roundworm.
We recommend that adult dogs and cats are wormed every 3-4 months but they can be done in the interim if they are exposed to a lot of worms or are seen to be passing any. Cats are notorious for not taking tablets so if your cat is one of these then a nurse appointment can be booked at the surgery so that the wormer can be administered there free of charge. Failing that we can advise you on alternative methods of worming.
Puppies and kittens should be wormed every 2 weeks from about 2 weeks of age until they are 12 weeks old. Then they should be wormed monthly until 6 months old. There are special worming preparations suitable for very young puppies and kittens and it is particularly important that they be weighed to calculate a dose.
Please phone the surgery to discuss your pets specific worming requirements. The nurses and vets will be happy to advise you.
The Ark Veterinary Practice
41 Connaught Road, Fleet, , GU51 3LR United Kingdom
Tel: 01252 616 185
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