Petmania warn pet owners ahead of Parasite Prevention Month
Jul 29, 2019
WORMS AND FLEAS INFECT PETS DURING HARVEST SEASON
Petmania warn pet owners ahead of Parasite Prevention Month
Even the cleanest homes and most spotless pets can attract fleas. There are five different intestinal worms or parasites that can affect pets.
August marks Parasite Prevention Month along with harvest season which brings with it an increase in parasites in pets. An Irish specialist pet retailer Petmania are urging pet owners to regularly inspect their pets for parasites, especially during the month of August.
Petmania will run talks on parasite prevention and product demos of the practical solutions available to prevent and treat parasites. They will take place every Sunday afternoon in August in all 12 stores nationwide.
Parasites can be found internally in the form of intestinal parasites, more commonly known as worms, or externally with fleas, ticks and mites. Harvest mites are common in August and are a huge annoyance for pets. They attach between their toes and cause itchy paws.
Emily Miller, Marketing Manager with Petmania said, “This August, we are encouraging all pet owners to come along to one of our talks and demo’s to learn about prevention and how to treat parasites correctly. Our Pet Care Advisors in all 12 stores will be on hand to provide advice on the issue.”
The most common parasites which affect dogs and cats are fleas, ticks and worms which are both easily prevented with treatments.
Fleas
The most common symptoms of fleas are frequent scratching, particularly on the lower back and above the tail. Inflammation of the skin and restlessness. Fleas in particular can lay as many as 20 eggs per day, and up to 500 in their lifetime.
When treating fleas, the living environment of the pet should be treated also. Petmania advise on preventative treatments to avoid fleas and what to do if they are discovered by pet owners:
- Treat the pet monthly with a preventative flea treatment or the use a Tickless device which is a non-medicated and a natural solution. It is an ultrasonic repellent for fleas and ticks which attaches to the pets collar.
- If flea’s are spotted, treat the coat to kill existing fleas, removing fleas and eggs with a flea comb.
- Apply a full home flea treatment to the pet’s living quarters, this may also mean that the home needs to be treated in full.
- Flea larvae may also become infected with tapeworm, so when treating pets for fleas, a tapeworm treatment should also be applied
Worming
The five worms are roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms and heartworms. Petmania recommended a regular dosage of worming tablets for all dogs and cats.
The symptoms of worms are extreme and include vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, itching around the anus, blood and worms in faeces and an unhealthy appearance.
Most puppies are born with roundworm so treatment should start from 6 weeks for all puppies.
For dogs, Petmania recommend regular dog grooming for all breeds and coat type. Petmania’s dog grooming services involve checking dog’s skin for irritation, infection and parasites along with washing, brushing, assist the dog to shed his coat, cleaning eyes and ears, a nail trim and identifying symptoms of allergies, infections or dietary requirements.
Petmania’s fully qualified dog groomers are available to assist dog owners in ensuring the on-going health and wellbeing of their dogs. They have a wide range of flea and tick preventative products and grooming treatments available to combat the issue.
For more information on the most suitable flea and tick treatment for dogs or cats, speak with a Pet Care Advisor in your local Petmania store.
