August
Newsletter
This month I thought we will discuss flea and worm treatments as this is an important area of pet ownership. There are a range of products available and at times it can be difficult to make a decision as to which one is best. So thought I would run by the most common ones and how they are used.
What is in a
Spot on?
Good, now you
understand what a spot on is, lets us look at some of the more common products
that are available and how they are effective against worms and fleas and how
often you should administer them.
Effective against roundworm and tapeworm
Should be given every 4 weeks
Can be given with or without food
No need for starvation before or after treatment
- Works against ticks, fleas as well as
biting lice
- Should be given every 4 weeks
- spot on (back of the neck)
PANACUR
- Works against tapeworms, roundworms,
whipworms, lungworm.
- Mostly used on young puppies, kittens and
rabbits.
DRONCIT (Cats)
- works against tapeworms
- Should be given every 3-6 months
- Tablet
How often you
administer worming treatment to your pet will depend on what spot on treatment
is used. Products such as Advocate and Stronghold, which are effective against
some worms, only require worming with Milbemax/ Drontal every 6 months. If
Frontline is used then worming is advised every 1- 3 months. This is because
Frontline is not effective against any worms.
I also like to
advise not to give multiple treatments at the same time. You should leave 2 weeks between administering spot on
treatment (eg: Advocate) and a
worming tablet (eg Milbemax).
Alternatively,
if you give worming tablets first, such as Drontal, then it is advised to wait 48 hours before giving the spot on
treatment. This is to prevent possible overdose of the active ingredients.
There are many
other products out there, and not all of them are very effective. The above products
have undergone clinical trials demonstrating they work effectively and are safe
for your pet. Be careful with petshop bought treatments as
some contain the product PERMETHRIN
which, if given to cats accidentally, can be FATAL.
LUNGWORM
Angiostrongylus
vasorum or lungworm is becoming more evident and research has proven that it is
increasing, The most common way your pets can get infected with lungworm is
from eating grass, drinking from puddles or when they play with their toys that
have been left in the garden.
Slugs and
snails thrive in warm, damp conditions i.e. spring or autumn, so more cases are
seen during this period.
Signs and symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath - coughing and
exercise intolerence.
- Blood clotting disorders - excessive
bleeding following injury, nose bleeds, bleeding into the eye, anaemia
(pale gums and around the eyes).
- Generally unwell - weight loss, poor
appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea, depression.
- Fitting
- Death.
Although there are other products available
the same rules apply to ALL, please read the data sheets, if applying a spot on
product make sure your pet is restrained correctly. I also advise owners to
apply spot on just before you go to bed, as family members will not be
‘stroking’ their pets excessively. One other thing to consider make sure you
keep a note of when your pets were last treated for both fleas and worms and do
not use two products at the same time.
So, where are we up to, well since our last
news-letter:
·
We have been mentioned in the local press
·
Our face book page is getting more ‘likes’
·
Our blog site is reaching more folks
·
We are now on Google +
·
We are on pinterest
·
Created a ‘you tube’ channel where we will be
uploading videos
·
Our sales of flea and worm treatments are
increasing
·
An appointment has been booked from
Lancashire Life where we will appear in the magazine either September or
October
·
More folks are now buying our Canine First
Aid courses and recently Kelly Appleton from Pooch Patrol, Northwich has just
successfully gained her Canine Intermediate First Aid Certificate.
Phew, so still remaining busy.
We are in the process now at looking at
offering accredited courses in animal or farm management so, if anybody has got
any ideas which subjects they would like us to intergrate into a course, then
please drop us an email with your suggestions J
So that’s us for now, and remember:
Vet Nurse Direct is a friendly pet service
provider who can assist you with your pet’s welfare all in the comfort of your
own home.
Feel free to contact us at any time to
discuss the needs of both you or your pet.
Telephone: 07411 545254 or 07411 671971
Or follow us on facebook, google + , pinterest and Twitter J to keep up to date with all our news and
events.
