None of us like to think of our pets carrying worms. Intestinal parasites concern us as owners as they can cause discomfort and illness in our pets. Keeping our pets worm free is not only important for their health, but for the health of our families too.

In the United Kingdom there are four common types of intestinal worms that infect our cats and dogs: roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms.

How Does My Pet Get Worms?

There are numerous ways cats and dogs can become infected with intestinal worms, how they become infected will depend on the species of worm and your pet's age and lifestyle. 

• Some roundworms can cross the placenta into developing puppies, so they are born infected. Puppies and kittens can also become infected through drinking the milk of their infected mother.

• For older animals infection often comes from consuming eggs in the environment, this may be when they are outdoors playing or on a walk, but also from the transfer of eggs into the home. Grooming contaminated soil from paws and fur will cause infection.

• Fleas and lice carry immature tapeworms, cats and dogs become infected when they groom themselves and ingest the fleas and lice. Therefore adequate flea control is also important in controlling intestinal parasites too.

• The consumption of uncooked meat and eating infected prey, such as rodents and rabbits, is a source of intestinal worm eggs.

How Do I Know If My Pet Has Intestinal Worms?

When we think of worms we often imagine long thin tapeworms, however most adult worms are rarely seen.  It is therefore not possible to know if your pet has worms just by looking at them and their faeces. Detection requires microscopic examination of faeces for worm eggs.  For this reason the use of regular preventative treatment is strongly recommended.

What Symptoms Will Intestinal Worms Cause?

Most worm infected pets in the United Kingdom show relatively minor symptoms unless the infection is heavy. Young puppies and kittens are most vulnerable to the ill effects caused by intestinal worms. Symptoms of infection can include:

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Potbelly appearance
• Poor coat
• Lethargy
• Anaemia
• Respiratory problems

A heavy worm burden in puppies and kittens can cause an intestinal blockage which can be fatal.

Risks To People

A disease or infection that can be transmitted to humans from animals is called a zoonosis. Several intestinal worms found in cats and dogs in the United Kingdom are zoonotic.

The roundworms Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, found in dogs and cats respectively cause toxocariasis in people.  Toxocariasis is rare but affects mainly young children as they are more likely to come into contact with eggs in faeces and contaminated soil, and to put their hands in their mouths. Once ingested the eggs hatch inside the human bowel and the larvae can travel throughout the body. These larvae moving through the body can cause a cough and fever, or more severe symptoms such as loss of vision, fatigue, breathing difficulties and seizures.

Regular worming treatment of cats and dogs and immediate disposal of faeces, as well as regular hand washing will help to reduce the risk of toxocariasis,

Some species of tapeworms found in cats and dogs are also zoonotic. The most concerning of these is Echinococcus multilocularis, this worm is not currently found in the United Kingdom but is common in continental Europe.  Dogs infected with E. multilocularis appear to have no symptoms, but the infection can be deadly in people. For this reason, it is very important to ensure your dog is regularly wormed if you have travelled to an infected area. Your vet will be able to give you more information about which precautions to take against this parasite.

Treatment and Prevention

Intestinal worm eggs are common and widespread in the environment. Almost all dogs and cats will be infected at some point during their lives. High rates of infection and a lack of obvious symptoms is the reason regular worming treatment should be given to all cats and dogs.

Drontal kills every type of intestinal worm commonly found in UK cats and dogs, dosing every three months will be sufficient control for most pets. Flea control is also necessary to prevent reinfection of tapeworms.

Pets with no access to the outdoors should still be treated every three months as eggs will still be transferred into the home by shoes, bike and buggy wheels.

High-risk pets, including puppies and kittens younger than 6 months, pregnant and lactating bitches and queens, as well as hunters and those eating raw meat may require more frequent dosing.  You can discuss your pet's worming needs with your vet.

Removing pet faeces immediately and cleaning the environment will help to prevent an accumulation of worm eggs.

At Protect My Pet, we want to make parasite prevention as easy as possible. Infrequent dosing of flea and worm treatments and poor quality products allow worms to multiply within your pet, affecting their health and well being. With our service you will never forget to treat again because when it arrives in the post, its time to dose.

If you're not already using our hassle-free service, you can join our pack today here.

We all want to protect our pets against fleas and the distress and ill health they cause. With a huge range of products and remedies claiming to fight fleas, it can be difficult to know what is best for your pet. Here at Protect My Pet, we want to make flea control as easy and effective as possible.

Where should I treat?

Understanding the flea life cycle is important when implementing effective treatment and prevention. For every flea living on your pet, one hundred immature fleas will be living in your home, typically on your pet's bedding, the sofa, carpet, and cracks in wooden floors. When treating your pet for a flea infestation, it is as important to kill the fleas in their surroundings as it is to kill the fleas on their body.

• Adult female fleas can lay fifty eggs per day on your cat or dog, these eggs slide off their fur and therefore accumulate anywhere your pet spends a lot of time. Regular vacuuming will help to prevent an accumulation of fleas by removing their eggs and larvae, the pupae stage may still remain protected in a sticky cocoon.

• Washing bedding at 60° will kill the various flea life stages, remember to also wash soft toys and any blankets that might be used in the car.

• Environmental flea sprays will stop eggs and larvae from developing into adults, typically these products are effective for 12 months after each application. Use a veterinary grade product such as Acclaim, Indorex or RIP Fleas Indoor Spray.

When should I treat?

Flea infestation can occur at any time of year, with a peak in numbers during the summer and autumn months. Flea pupae need warm temperatures in order to hatch into adults, this will occur all year round inside the home. Outdoor sources of fleas become more numerous in summer and autumn as the warmer weather encourages the pupae to hatch. Wildlife such as foxes and hedgehogs act as hosts and a food source for fleas, spreading their eggs in gardens and parks, where your pet may become contaminated.

We therefore recommend using a preventative product all year round.

Which product should I use?

There are many forms of flea killing products including topical applications, tablets, and collars. There are however a variety of efficacies within each of these categories. It is important to choose a product that is recommended by veterinarians, some of these products will only be available with a prescription.

Topical flea treatments, like Frontline and Advantage, should be applied between the shoulder blades, where it is difficult for your pet to lick. Take care that pets do not groom each other immediately after application. The active ingredient spreads across the body, ensuring that all the skin is protected, right down to the tip of your pet's tail. It is important to remember that getting wet within 48 hours of application will reduce the effectiveness of the product, so no baths or swimming should be allowed during this time.

Why might my flea treatment fail?

The most common reasons for continued flea infestation despite treatment are:
• Using a poor quality flea treatment product
• Product has been applied incorrectly or the interval between applications is longer than recommended.
• Topical product has been washed off within 48 hours of application
• Home environment is acting as a reservoir for reinfection
• Not all in-contact animals have been treated for fleas, this includes cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets.

Flea Allergic Dermatitis

Flea saliva can act be an allergen to some cats and dogs. An individual that has previously been bitten by a flea can become sensitised to flea saliva and an allergic reaction then occurs to new flea bites. Flea allergies can occur in any breed or gender but is unlikely to occur in puppies and kittens less than 3 months old.
Whilst flea bites are irritating for all animals, those with an allergic hypersensitivity will show an exaggerated itchy response to the presence of fleas. These animals may have hair loss and broken, thickened skin due to self-inflicted trauma, often on the lower spine and tail base.
Dogs will occasionally show large areas of acute moist dermatitis, or 'hot spots'; these occur due to secondary infection in the areas of broken skin. These 'hot spots' may require a course of antibiotics to heal.
Cats with a flea allergy may show lesions on their head and neck, as well as their lower back and thighs. Owners often miss the signs of itchy skin in cats as they tend to over-groom rather than show the classic scratching with their hindlimbs.

Animals with a flea allergy should be seen by a veterinarian during any acute flare-up. It is very important that these pets are protected against any contact with fleas by the strict implementation of the flea preventative measures discussed above; regular application of a quality flea product, regular treatment of all in-contact animals and treating the environment.

Protect My Pet

Here at Protect My Pet we want you to be confident in your flea control. Using only veterinary recommended, market leading flea treatment products, we ensure your pet receives the correct dose at the correct time, helping you to protect your pet.

Ticks are unwelcome hitchhikers that most owners will find on their dogs from time to time, usually after a nice ramble across the countryside.

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites related to spiders, they will climb vegetation and wait for a mammal to pass by, this could be a deer, hedgehog, your dog or even you. Once they have jumped onto an animal the tick will find an area of thin skin, where they will grasp on and insert their mouthparts. They excrete anti-clotting agent to prevent blood clots from stopping the flow of their blood meal. Depending on the life stage of the tick, it could attach itself to your dog for a period of one to two weeks.

Ticks are normally inactive in winter, becoming active again in spring and early summer, their activity reduces through the summer months, and then there is a second peak of activity in the autumn.

How might my dog become infected with ticks?

In the United Kingdom, the most common species of tick likely to affect your dog is the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus or the hedgehog tick, Ixodes hexagonus. Habitats such as heathland, moors, and woodland are favoured by ticks, there is an increased presence in deer parks due to the availability of hosts. Walking your dog in the countryside will mean they are at an increased risk of ticks.

How do I know if my dog has a tick?

Ticks can be tricky to spot amongst your dog's hair. The most common area to find a tick is on your dog's head and legs, although they can attach anywhere on an animal's body. Ticks will appear as grey or brown immobile growths or wart on your pet. As they feed on blood their bodies enlarge and they become easier to identify.

The bites of ticks can cause local irritation and inflammation, if they are scratched off and mouthparts are left buried in the skin a small abscess can result. When present in very large numbers they may cause substantial blood loss in young animals causing anaemia. However, the main danger of ticks is in the infections that they can carry.

Should I be concerned about tick-borne diseases?

Tick-borne disease is caused by infectious agents living within the tick, being transferred to your dog through the tick salivary fluids. Signs of a disease transmitted by ticks may appear either when the tick is still present or after it has dropped off. The incidence of tick-borne diseases in British dogs has been rising.

Lyme disease (borreliosis) is the only disease carried by UK ticks. Infected dogs may develop a fever, lose their appetite, or show signs of lethargy or arthritis. In chronic cases, Lyme disease can cause kidney, heart or nerve problems which can become fatal. These symptoms may not show for a long time after the infected tick has fallen off. If you are at all concerned that your dog is showing symptoms of Lyme disease book an appointment with your local vet. Humans can get Lyme disease too if bitten by an infected tick.

If your pet becomes ill after travelling abroad, ensure your vet is informed about where they have been in case they need to consider other tick-borne diseases not usually present in the United Kingdom.

How can I protect my dog from ticks?

Examine your dog's coat on a daily basis and completely remove any ticks you find as soon as possible.

Use a 'tick remover' to help you extract the tick. A tick remover is hook-shaped with a slot that slides either side of the tick. This should be gently twisted several times to remove the mouthparts from your dog. Once removed examine the tick before disposal to ensure the tick is intact and there are no mouthparts still present in your dog's skin. Gently clean the area after removal of the tick. If you are unsure if what you have found is a tick, or how to remove it, your local veterinary practice will be able to help.

Use a tick control product, such as Frontline Spot On, on a regular basis to reduce the number of ticks that can attach to your dog and reduce the chances of any ticks that do attach from spreading tick-borne diseases. You may use a tick control product all year round, but it is of the greatest importance during the peak activity times of spring and autumn. Protect My Pet will help to ensure you never miss a dose by having your tick preventative arriving in the post, just when it is needed.

Avoid walking your dog in areas known to have a large tick population, particularly at the times of year when ticks are known to be most active.

Humans can also be a food source for ticks, remember to protect yourself when walking in parks and woodlands. Tuck your trousers into socks and check your legs and ankles for ticks when you get home.

Sign up to Protect My Pet before the 31st May 2018 to receive a free tick remover tool. To redeem use code GoodByeTicks at the checkout.*