Collection: Dog Flea, Tick, Worming
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Flea, tick and worming treatment for dogs
Fleas, ticks and worms can be anything from extremely uncomfortable to potentially deadly for dogs. It is very important for the health of your dog and your family that you administer regular flea, tick and worming treatment. Here at Pet Supplies Empire, we offer all the trusted brands at the lowest prices.
Why are fleas a problem? (supplied by Vetchat)
While fleas are a problem throughout the year, the warmer and humid weather allows flea populations around Australia to explode. They are annoying to both dogs and cats, and the bite of the flea can cause an allergic reaction causing them to be very itchy and get painful sores on their skin.
Fleas hatch from eggs and jump onto the nearest host for a feed. Although fleas can’t fly, they can jump long distances and get to your pet from another animal, the soil or grass. They are prolific breeders and one female adult flea can lay around 50 eggs per day – this means a couple of fleas feeding on your best bud can turn into scores of them very quickly!
These eggs fall off your pet wherever they frequent (think carpet, rugs, floorboards, backyard etc.), where they hatch into larvae and ultimately develop into adult fleas and start looking for a host again, such as you or your pet.
Prevention is better than the cure when it comes to fleas. Don’t wait until summer hits before you start thinking about flea treatment – by then it can be too late!
How do I know if my dog already has fleas?
The vets at Vetchat have put together the top three ways to tell if your dog has fleas:
- You see fleas: Fleas are a dark brown colour, a few mm in size and can be spotted by the naked eye just by inspecting your dog’s skin after parting back the fur. Typically, you find them on the skin around your dog's rump but they can be anywhere.
- Flea dirt: This is just flea poop (your pets dried blood). It looks like there’s dirt on your dog’s skin. If you stand your dog on some white paper towel and use a flea comb to put some of this dirt on the towel, add some water to the suspected flea dirt - and if the water makes the dirt a reddish colour on the paper you have your answer - this is flea dirt and even if you can’t see a flea - you have a flea problem.
- Skin irritation: A dog with fleas will usually show visible signs of irritation and restlessness. If your dog is shaking its head, scratching, licking, or chewing on certain parts of its body more than usual, this may be a sign of fleas.
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Worms or segments in faeces, or seen on your pet’s bottom
- Scooting their bottom along the ground
- Bloated stomach: especially obvious in puppies
- Weight loss: worms are affecting their absorption of nutrients
- Dull coat
- Change in voice (i.e. bark)
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Progressing to paralysis of the legs (back legs first)
- Difficulty breathing
- Can see a tick (or feel a lump on your daily checks- note that if you find one, it’s very possible there’ll be more)
- Use tick prevention: Chat to a veterinarian about what works best for you and your pet, remembering some products are very toxic to cats. Options include sprays, collars, spot on (2 weekly), monthly tablets and the newest one is a very effective tablet that can be given orally every 3 months.
- Stay away from bushland. Ticks love it here.
- Do a tick search with your finger tips for 5 minutes every day- from the tip of their nose to their tail, and everywhere in between! Most ticks are found from the shoulders forward (ear tip and lip folds as well), but they can be anywhere and are also often found on the paws. Feel over your entire pet every night for any ‘bumps’ that could be a tick.