Flea and Worm Treatment for Dogs
Fleas
Fleas need blood to survive and they get this by biting the skin of their host and sucking the blood until they are full. A bite is usually quite itchy, but some dogs can be allergic to flea saliva, which can make them quite sick.
Flea Treatments
Beaphar produce a spot-on treatment that kills both fleas and ticks. It is recommended to give this treatment to your dog monthly from the age of 8 weeks. The solution continues to work on fleas up to 5 weeks after administering and 4 weeks for ticks.
Johnson’s Dual Action spot on treatment works to prevent flea bites occurring within 5 minutes of administering the solution onto your dog’s skin. The treatment can kill flea larvae within 20 minutes of contact and kills 98–100% of fleas within 12 hours.
Frontline spot on for fleas and ticks is effective and long lasting and we use this on our Patterdale Terrier Blake.
Worms
There are a few different types of worms that dogs can have. The four most common are intestinal, feeding off the nutrients inside the dog’s digestive tract. They lay eggs in the body which leave the dog via the faeces to infect another host. This article on worming provides information on the different types, which symptoms to look out for and how to choose an effective treatment.
There are 2 types of worms that can cause death if left untreated: heartworm and lungworm. Over the counter worming treatments do not work for these types of infestations, so you must seek veterinary advice if you believe your dog to be suffering from either type.
Worming Treatment for Dogs
Puppies should be wormed by the vet during their fortnightly check-ups until they are 8 weeks old. From then until 6 months old, they should be wormed monthly. Once they reach 6 months of age, they should be wormed every 3 months. There are tablet and spot on options. It is advisable to speak to your vet when choosing a wormer. Some only treat one type, whereas others are a combination and will treat 2 or 3 types at once.
Bob Martin produce a clinically proven combination tablet that is effective in treating roundworm, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms.
For Tapeworms, Droncit have created a veterinary licensed tablet, effective against immature and adult worms.
For treatment against roundworms and tapeworms, this combination worming tablet from Johnsons is a safe and effective option. As tapeworms can be transmitted by fleas, this wormer should be given alongside regular flea treatment.
Beaphar also have a UK veterinary authorised combination tablet for treating roundworms and tapeworms.
As with any pet treatment, always consult with your vet who will be able to advise you of the best options for worming. If your dog is struggling to take tablets, there are certain spot on alternatives that your vet will be able to recommend.
Overall Verdict on Flea and Worm Treatment for Dogs
Unfortunately, there are not yet any combination treatment available for both fleas and worms. You can give the two treatments close together, but this depends on the type of treatment you are using. The instructions that are supplied will give you a safe timeline, however, most can be given 48 hours apart.
If you are unsure or concerned about when to give flea and worm treatments, speak to your vet. They will be able to best advise the correct waiting period. Factors that influence this will be size and age of your dog, plus their current health condition.
Originally published at https://patterdaleterriers.co.uk on July 31, 2020.
