Pet parents everywhere will be able to wax lyrical about the joys (read: frustration) of fleas, ticks and worms.
Keeping on top of parasites isn’t a once-off job either. Our pets need protection throughout the year, and remembering what treatment is due and when is half the battle.
Here’s a simple pet parasite schedule to help you keep track.
Fleas and ticks: Every 30 days
This is a non-negotiable.
For every five fleas you see on your pet, 95 are hiding as eggs and larvae on your bedding, in your carpet and couch. Skip one month and the whole cycle starts again, so consistency matters.
Choose the same date each month, add a reminder to your phone and give your pet ONE vet-approved flea and tick preventative each time.
Avoid the temptation to grab a cheap supermarket product. Many don’t work, while a product intended for dogs may be toxic to cats.
Instead, visit your vet or vet shop with your pet’s exact age and weight to get the appropriate treatment.
If you already have fleas, treat all your pets on the same day. Wash all bedding on hot and vacuum daily for seven days to remove eggs and larvae.
Don’t forget the post-walk tick check
If you have a dog, spend 30 seconds checking for ticks after every walk. For outdoor cats, check while brushing them.
Pay particular attention to:
- Inside the ears
- Under the collar
- Between the toes
- Armpits
- Around the eyelids
If you find a tick, remove it immediately using clean, fine-tipped tweezers.
Pull straight upwards using steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick and don’t squeeze its body.
Once removed, drop the tick into rubbing alcohol or place it in a clear bag to kill it. Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or an antiseptic.
Worms: Every three months
Roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm and whipworm spread through poop, soil, licks at the park and even swallowing a flea while grooming.
Most pets won’t show signs they have worms until it’s, ahem, a heavy load.
Your deworming schedule should look like this:
- Puppies and kittens, 0–6 months: Deworm every two weeks until eight weeks old, then monthly until six months.
- Adult dogs and cats, 6+ months: Deworm every three months, for example January, April, July and October.
- High-risk pets: Hunters, raw-fed pets, dogs that eat poop, cats that catch birds and mice, and pets in homes with toddlers should be dewormed monthly.
Use a broad-spectrum dewormer suitable for your pet’s species and weight.
If your pet has fleas, deworm for tapeworm at the same time.
Signs your pet might have worms
Keep an eye out for scooting, rice-grain-like pieces near their bum, a pot belly in younger animals, weight loss or vomiting with spaghetti-like worms.
Heartworm and lungworm: Monthly
Heartworm is spread by mosquito bites and affects both dogs and cats, while lungworm comes from slugs and snails.
Although many flea products cover these parasites, check with your vet to make sure your pet’s treatment provides the protection they need.
A simple monthly reminder for flea, tick, heartworm and lungworm protection, combined with a three-monthly deworming schedule for most adult pets, makes staying on top of parasite protection far easier.
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