Fleas, Ticks and Worms: A Practical Prevention Guide

Adult fleas on the animal represent roughly five percent of an infestation. The rest — eggs, larvae and pupae — are in carpets, bedding and floor cracks. Treating only the animal guarantees the problem returns.

Treat every animal in the household with an appropriate licensed product, wash bedding at 60°C, vacuum thoroughly and repeat weekly, and use an environmental treatment where advised.

Check after every walk in long grass or woodland, particularly around the head, neck, ears and between toes. Remove with a tick hook by twisting steadily — never burn, squeeze or apply substances, which increase disease transmission risk.

Ticks transmit Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and others depending on region. Note the date of removal and watch for lameness, lethargy or fever over the following weeks.

Roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm, whipworm and lungworm have different life cycles and different treatments. No single wormer covers all of them, and frequency should match lifestyle: hunting cats, dogs that eat slugs and puppies all need different plans.

Some parasites transmit to people, especially children. Pick up faeces promptly, wash hands after handling animals and soil, and keep worming current in households with young children or immunocompromised people.