Fleas, Ticks and Worms

Parasite control is one of the few areas of pet care where the wrong product can do real harm, and where doing nothing quietly costs more than doing something. Fleas, ticks and worms all behave differently, so it helps to treat them as three separate jobs rather than one tick-box.

Fleas live in your house, not on your pet

Only a small share of a flea population is on the animal at any time. The rest is eggs, larvae and pupae in carpets, sofas, bedding and the gaps between floorboards, and pupae can survive dormant for months until warmth and vibration wake them. That biology dictates the treatment:

• Treat every cat, dog, rabbit and ferret in the house, on the same schedule, not just the itchy one.
• Wash bedding hot, vacuum thoroughly — including under furniture — and empty the vacuum outside.
• Use a household spray where the infestation is established, and expect to keep treating for around three months before the cycle is broken.

Flea allergy is common: some animals react violently to a handful of bites, so the absence of visible fleas does not rule them out. Comb over a sheet of damp white paper and look for flea dirt, which smears red-brown.

Ticks

Ticks are picked up in long grass, woodland and bracken, mainly from spring to autumn, and they can transmit Lyme disease and other infections to both animals and people. Check dogs after walks, especially the head, neck, ears, armpits and between the toes.

Remove ticks with a purpose-made tick hook, twisting gently so the whole tick comes away. Never squeeze the body, burn it, or smother it in petroleum jelly — all of which make the tick regurgitate into the wound. If the animal becomes lethargic, lame or feverish in the following weeks, mention the tick.

Worms

Roundworm and tapeworm are the usual concerns in dogs and cats, and roundworm eggs are a genuine, if uncommon, human health risk — reason enough for careful hand-washing and prompt clearing of faeces. Tapeworm is often carried in by fleas or by hunting, so flea control and worming are linked.

Lungworm deserves separate mention in dogs. It is spread through slugs and snails, including on chewed toys left out overnight, and it can cause bleeding disorders that are hard to explain otherwise. Not every wormer covers it, so ask specifically.

Other species have their own parasites: rabbits are prone to fly strike in warm months and need their rear end checked twice daily, and small furries, birds, reptiles and fish all have dedicated products.

Record what you use

Write down the product name, the dose and the date, and set a reminder for the next one. If your pet is very young, pregnant, nursing, underweight, unwell or already on medication, get qualified advice before treating.