Regular parasite prevention protects your pet from skin irritation, anaemia, parasite-borne diseases, and potentially fatal conditions like tick paralysis and heartworm disease. Year-round prevention is the most effective way to keep your pet safe and your home free from infestations.
Parasite Prevention Options at Gippsland Veterinary Hospital
We offer flexible options for protecting your pet from parasites, whether you prefer to purchase treatments as needed or want comprehensive ongoing coverage.
Standalone Parasite Prevention
Purchase flea, tick, and worming treatments individually at Gippsland Veterinary Hospital. Our veterinary team can recommend the most effective products for your pet based on their species, age, weight, and lifestyle. Options include:
- Chewable tablets (monthly or 3-monthly options)
- Spot-on treatments
- Long-lasting collars
- Injectable heartworm prevention
- Intestinal wormers
Parasite Prevention with Best Mates Wellness Plan
Best Mates is a comprehensive pet wellness plan built for Australian pets, available across our national network of Apiam veterinary clinics. Best Mates offers three package options to suit your pet’s life stage — and Flea, Tick & Worm Prevention is one of them.
The three Best Mates packages are:
- Flea, Tick & Worm Prevention — complete parasite protection covering heartworm, fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms
- Desexing — standard surgical desexing for your cat or dog, with the option for chemical castration
- Dental Scale & Polish — comprehensive dental care including x-rays and dental charting
All Best Mates members also receive unlimited consultations at any participating Apiam clinic across Australia. Whether you’re at home in Maffra or travelling interstate, your pet receives the same high standard of care at any network hospital.
Learn more about Best Mates or ask our team at Gippsland Veterinary Hospital which package is right for your pet.
Fleas
Fleas are small, fast-moving external parasites that feed on your pet’s blood. Even a few fleas can cause significant discomfort, and infestations can quickly take hold in your home.
How Fleas Affect Your Pet
- Skin irritation: Flea bites cause itching, scratching, and skin inflammation
- Flea allergy dermatitis: Some pets develop an allergic reaction to flea saliva, where even a single bite triggers intense itching, hair loss, and skin infections
- Anaemia: Heavy infestations can cause dangerous blood loss, particularly in puppies and kittens
- Tapeworm transmission: Fleas carry tapeworm larvae, which infect your pet when they swallow fleas during grooming
Signs of Flea Infestation
Adult fleas can be difficult to spot. Look for these signs:
- Excessive scratching, biting, and licking
- Hair loss, especially around the base of the tail
- Red, irritated skin
- “Flea dirt” — tiny black specks in your pet’s coat (these are flea droppings)
To confirm flea dirt, place the specks on a damp white paper towel. Flea dirt will dissolve into reddish-brown smears of digested blood.
Ticks
Australia is home to several tick species, but the paralysis tick poses the greatest threat to pets.
Paralysis Ticks
The paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) is found primarily along the east coast of Australia, thriving in humid, vegetated environments. However, pets can encounter ticks in local bushland or parks, or pick them up while travelling.
As the tick feeds, it injects a potent neurotoxin into your pet’s bloodstream. This toxin causes progressive paralysis, starting with the hind legs and potentially leading to respiratory failure and death without treatment.
Symptoms of Tick Paralysis
Symptoms typically appear around 3 to 7 days after tick attachment. Early signs include:
- Lethargy and weakness
- Wobbly gait or loss of coordination
- Changes in voice (hoarse bark or soft meow)
- Retching, gagging, or vomiting
- Laboured breathing
As paralysis progresses, pets may develop difficulty breathing, coughing, grunting, and become unable to stand.
Tick Paralysis is a Medical Emergency
If your pet shows any signs of tick paralysis, seek veterinary attention immediately. Every hour without treatment increases the risk of death. Keep your pet calm and cool during transport, and do not offer food or water if they are having difficulty swallowing.
Daily Tick Checks
Even with preventative treatments, perform a thorough daily tick search after your pet has been outdoors. Run your fingers through their coat, paying close attention to the head, ears, neck, chest, armpits, and between the toes. If you find a tick, remove it carefully and monitor your pet for symptoms.
Intestinal Worms
Several types of intestinal worms affect dogs and cats in Australia. Adult worms shed microscopic eggs into your pet’s coat and the environment, which can then be ingested by other pets or people.
Common Intestinal Worms
- Roundworms: One of the most common parasites in young animals, causing a pot-bellied appearance, vomiting, diarrhoea, and poor growth. Roundworm eggs can also infect humans, particularly children.
- Hookworms: These small worms attach to the intestinal lining and feed on blood, causing anaemia, weight loss, and diarrhoea.
- Whipworms: Found in the large intestine, causing chronic diarrhoea (sometimes with blood and mucus) and weight loss.
- Tapeworms: Long, segmented worms transmitted through fleas or infected prey. Segments resembling grains of rice may be visible in faeces or around your pet’s tail.
- Hydatid tapeworms: Tiny tapeworms that can cause serious disease in humans. Dogs become infected by eating raw offal from sheep or other livestock. Regular worming is essential in rural areas.
Worming Schedule for Puppies and Kittens
Young pets are particularly vulnerable to intestinal worms and require frequent treatment:
- Every 2 weeks from 2 weeks of age until 12 weeks of age
- Monthly from 12 weeks until 6 months of age
- Then transition to the adult schedule
Worming Schedule for Adult Pets
- Routine prevention: Worm every 3 months with a broad-spectrum allwormer
- High hydatid risk: If your dog has access to raw sheep meat or offal, worm every 6 weeks with a hydatid-effective product
Heartworm
Heartworm is a potentially fatal parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites your pet, it deposits heartworm larvae that migrate to the heart and blood vessels, where they mature into large worms up to 30cm long.
Heartworm disease is difficult and expensive to treat, but easy to prevent. Prevention options include monthly chewables, spot-on treatments, or an annual injection administered by your veterinarian.
