Nobody likes a parasite...
Parasites are usually small organisms which for at least a portion of their life cycle rely on a mammalian host (your pet) for nutrients or a place to reproduce. Some parasites are species specific, whilst others are generalists and can infest a range of species (including humans). There are three main types of parasite to be mindful of when considering your pet's health; intestinal worms, heartworms and external parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites. The health effects resulting from a parasite burden will vary depending on the degree of infestation and the type of organism involved - for example whilst occasional fleas may cause only a mild irritation, heartworms and paralysis ticks may result serious illness or death of your pet. In most cases parasites can be easily controlled though the use of preventative medications. A summary table of products we recommend can be found at this bottom of this page.
Intestinal worms
Most species of animal, including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, fish, birds, reptiles and humans can be affected by intestinal worms. As the name implies, intestinal worms are a type of parasite which lives inside the intestines of your pet. They can range in size from very small to up to 18cm in length! Regardless of their size however they can all have negative and potentially deadly effects.
The most common species of intestinal worms found associated with pets in Australia are roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm and hookworm. A heavy worm burden (lots of intestinal worms) may result in your pet having difficulty maintaining body condition (weight loss) or else it may cause vomiting, diarrhoea and/or anemia (low iron levels from a loss of red blood cells). Especially heavily worm burdens may cause death.
The types of preventatives and treatments available for intestinal worms rely on an understanding of the life cycle of the problem species. For example, some tapeworms need to spend a part of their life cycle within a flea in order to become infectious to other animals, so appropriate flea prevention may be adequate control for tapeworms. Other species may persist in the environment for many months such that ongoing prevention is required in order to break the life cycle and rid your home environment of intestinal parasites.
Routine administration of worming tablets is the best protection you can offer your pet (and your family) to avoid illness resulting from intestinal worms. A range of products are available, but our favourite products are listed at the bottom of this page. Depending on your (or your pet's) preference, products may be purchased as spot-on's, pastes, tablets or chews. The frequency of administration required depends on the products used. You can discuss the best combination of preventative medications with our vets to ensure proper coverage of all the relevant parasites. Frequent and mindful disposal of pet faeces and good pet and family hygiene will further reduce the risk of parasite infestation at your home.
The most common species of intestinal worms found associated with pets in Australia are roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm and hookworm. A heavy worm burden (lots of intestinal worms) may result in your pet having difficulty maintaining body condition (weight loss) or else it may cause vomiting, diarrhoea and/or anemia (low iron levels from a loss of red blood cells). Especially heavily worm burdens may cause death.
The types of preventatives and treatments available for intestinal worms rely on an understanding of the life cycle of the problem species. For example, some tapeworms need to spend a part of their life cycle within a flea in order to become infectious to other animals, so appropriate flea prevention may be adequate control for tapeworms. Other species may persist in the environment for many months such that ongoing prevention is required in order to break the life cycle and rid your home environment of intestinal parasites.
Routine administration of worming tablets is the best protection you can offer your pet (and your family) to avoid illness resulting from intestinal worms. A range of products are available, but our favourite products are listed at the bottom of this page. Depending on your (or your pet's) preference, products may be purchased as spot-on's, pastes, tablets or chews. The frequency of administration required depends on the products used. You can discuss the best combination of preventative medications with our vets to ensure proper coverage of all the relevant parasites. Frequent and mindful disposal of pet faeces and good pet and family hygiene will further reduce the risk of parasite infestation at your home.
Heartworms
Heartworm, or Dirofilaria immitis, is a parasite which is spread by mosquitoes such that it is widespread throughout Australia. Although it is more prevalent in tropical areas cases are also increasingly observed in Canberra. Like some intestinal worms, heartworm has a complicated life cycle. It begins with Microfilariae circulating in the pets blood being sucked up by mosquitoes, where it develops into a larval stage before being transferred via a single mosquito bite back into the mammalian host (dog or cat). In this final stage, the worm matures within the heart causing a physical blockage and/or thickening of the surrounding vessels resulting in signs of heart failure (lethargy, coughing, reluctance to exercise) or even death.
Thankfully heartworm is very easy to prevent. Products such as 'Heartguard' are available as a tablet or chew for monthly preventative treatment of heartworm infections and an annual preventative injection is available for dogs over 6 months of age. Other topical products are also available which may also treat external parasites (fleas, ticks) and/or intestinal worms. To ensure your pet is free of heartworm before preventative measures are taken, our vets recommend a simple heartworm test for patients who have not been on adequate heartworm prevention in the past.
Thankfully heartworm is very easy to prevent. Products such as 'Heartguard' are available as a tablet or chew for monthly preventative treatment of heartworm infections and an annual preventative injection is available for dogs over 6 months of age. Other topical products are also available which may also treat external parasites (fleas, ticks) and/or intestinal worms. To ensure your pet is free of heartworm before preventative measures are taken, our vets recommend a simple heartworm test for patients who have not been on adequate heartworm prevention in the past.
External parasites: fleas, ticks and mites
The health effects of external parasites vary markedly from minor irritants to life threatening depending on the species. In some pets, even a single flea bite may cause severe skin irritation (flea allergic dermatitis), mites may cause severe lesions or infections, whereas paralysis ticks can be life threatening in all pets.
Fleas are mainly a warm weather foe, however in our artificially heated environments (homes) they may be seen year round. Only a small proportion of the flea's life cycle takes place on your pet; and so ongoing routine prevention is necessary to break the cycle of re-infestation. Fleas eggs can survive in the environment for up to a year so when treating a flea infestation it is important also to treat bedding and carpets. It is worth noting that neither flea shampoos or flea collars will prevent continuation of the flea life cycle in your environment.
Fleas will only spend short periods of time on your pet whilst they feed, so regular checking - especially in the rump and groin region - is necessary to detect an infestation. Other signs your pet may have fleas include scratching or biting (especially at the base of the tail or rump), or the presence of flea dirt which can be detected using a moist cotton ball to dab the skin between parted fur on the rump. Black specs surrounded by a reddish area indicates that your pet has fleas.
Ticks are the next major consideration in terms of external parasites, especially the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus which can cause paralysis and death within 2-4 days of attachment. Ticks do occasionally occur in Canberra but are most common on dogs returning from a visit to the coast - especially those which have been allowed to run through scrub. Proper preventative medications and twice daily checking of your dog's coat is necessary for pets accompanying their families to the coast to increase the chances of prevention or at least early detection. Even if your dog has not been to the coast, ticks may travel on tents, blankets or in cars and so vigilance during the warmer months is crucial. Non-paralysing 'bush ticks' also found in the area are less deadly, but may still carry harmful diseases.
Ticks found on dogs not showing signs of paralysis should be removed immediately, but retained in case the dog develops symptoms later on. Ticks can be removed by using a specialised tick remover or by grasping it firmly where it attaches to the pet's skin and giving it a quick, sideways pull. Once removed, the pet should be kept cool and quiet with careful monitoring for 24 hours. If signs of paralysis develop, including vomiting, weakness or staggering, difficulty breathing or an altered bark, seek immediate veterinary attention as this is a genuine emergency. In this scenario do not offer food or water as it may be accidentally inhaled by tick-affected dogs.
Various products are available to prevent tick infestation in your pet (see bottom of page) but daily checking for attached ticks remains important. Remember that some products last for shorter time periods against ticks compared to fleas (e.g. 2 weeks for Frontline) and that spot-on products may wash off in the water. Read the product information carefully or discuss with our vets which options are best for you.
Mite infestations in your pet may be less obvious compared to fleas and ticks, as the tiny creatures generally burrow into the skin to lay their eggs. Mite infestations will often cause itchiness, redness and hair loss. Small hard bumps initially may become scabby sores as a result of itching and biting by your pet in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. Affected areas may become smelly if they later become infected with bacteria and may be difficult to detect if they occur between toes, in the groin area or within ear canals. Long-term infestations can result in thickened, weepy skin and may even result in a level of discomfort resulting in loss of appetite and eventual death.
All forms of mites are highly contagious and some species (including sarcoptic mange) can be spread to humans. Whilst there are preventative medications for mites these are not prescribed as routinely as for other external parasites, so it is worth being vigilant. If you suspect your pet has a mite infestation it is best to make an appointment to discuss treatment of the type of mite encountered and to get advice on how to limit it's spread to other pets or family members!
Fleas are mainly a warm weather foe, however in our artificially heated environments (homes) they may be seen year round. Only a small proportion of the flea's life cycle takes place on your pet; and so ongoing routine prevention is necessary to break the cycle of re-infestation. Fleas eggs can survive in the environment for up to a year so when treating a flea infestation it is important also to treat bedding and carpets. It is worth noting that neither flea shampoos or flea collars will prevent continuation of the flea life cycle in your environment.
Fleas will only spend short periods of time on your pet whilst they feed, so regular checking - especially in the rump and groin region - is necessary to detect an infestation. Other signs your pet may have fleas include scratching or biting (especially at the base of the tail or rump), or the presence of flea dirt which can be detected using a moist cotton ball to dab the skin between parted fur on the rump. Black specs surrounded by a reddish area indicates that your pet has fleas.
Ticks are the next major consideration in terms of external parasites, especially the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus which can cause paralysis and death within 2-4 days of attachment. Ticks do occasionally occur in Canberra but are most common on dogs returning from a visit to the coast - especially those which have been allowed to run through scrub. Proper preventative medications and twice daily checking of your dog's coat is necessary for pets accompanying their families to the coast to increase the chances of prevention or at least early detection. Even if your dog has not been to the coast, ticks may travel on tents, blankets or in cars and so vigilance during the warmer months is crucial. Non-paralysing 'bush ticks' also found in the area are less deadly, but may still carry harmful diseases.
Ticks found on dogs not showing signs of paralysis should be removed immediately, but retained in case the dog develops symptoms later on. Ticks can be removed by using a specialised tick remover or by grasping it firmly where it attaches to the pet's skin and giving it a quick, sideways pull. Once removed, the pet should be kept cool and quiet with careful monitoring for 24 hours. If signs of paralysis develop, including vomiting, weakness or staggering, difficulty breathing or an altered bark, seek immediate veterinary attention as this is a genuine emergency. In this scenario do not offer food or water as it may be accidentally inhaled by tick-affected dogs.
Various products are available to prevent tick infestation in your pet (see bottom of page) but daily checking for attached ticks remains important. Remember that some products last for shorter time periods against ticks compared to fleas (e.g. 2 weeks for Frontline) and that spot-on products may wash off in the water. Read the product information carefully or discuss with our vets which options are best for you.
Mite infestations in your pet may be less obvious compared to fleas and ticks, as the tiny creatures generally burrow into the skin to lay their eggs. Mite infestations will often cause itchiness, redness and hair loss. Small hard bumps initially may become scabby sores as a result of itching and biting by your pet in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. Affected areas may become smelly if they later become infected with bacteria and may be difficult to detect if they occur between toes, in the groin area or within ear canals. Long-term infestations can result in thickened, weepy skin and may even result in a level of discomfort resulting in loss of appetite and eventual death.
All forms of mites are highly contagious and some species (including sarcoptic mange) can be spread to humans. Whilst there are preventative medications for mites these are not prescribed as routinely as for other external parasites, so it is worth being vigilant. If you suspect your pet has a mite infestation it is best to make an appointment to discuss treatment of the type of mite encountered and to get advice on how to limit it's spread to other pets or family members!
Preventative medications
A wide range of products are available to prevent and treat infestations of parasites on your pet and - with repeated use - in the surrounding environment (your home). The table below shows our preferred products for different types of pets.
To ensure the correct dosage and medication types are used, we suggest a discussion with one of our vets if you are looking for preventative parasite products for other species. Some products can be harmful if used 'off label' - for example Frontline is toxic to rabbits.