Preventive Care Checklist for Pet Parasite Prevention

Getting rid of parasites on your pet can be a frustrating experience for pet owners. Especially parasites like fleas. Flea infestations can be overwhelming with minimal results.  

How do you prevent fleas? 

Fleas are some of the most annoying pests to deal with. They are small, jump, and breed quickly. Dogs and cats can pick up fleas from being outside and around other animals. Excessive itching and scratching is a sign that your pet may have fleas. You may even spot the little acrobats jumping around. 

If your family pet has fleas, it is likely that your yard or house will become a breeding ground so acting quickly is key to preventing the spread.  

How to get rid of your pet fleas: 

1. Kill the adult fleas with a topical preventative.  Flea medications that are in a liquid form can be placed on the back of your pet's neck and spreads quickly between fleas, killing adults and stopping new eggs from hatching on your pet. Most fleas will be killed within a few hours, but it can take days for topical medications to have full effect.   

2. Kill fleas with an oral preventative.  While topical treatments will affect fleas directly, oral pills or chewables (like Bravecto or NexGard) work after fleas bite your pet and kill the adult fleas. The new preventatives on the market protect your pet from fleas and worms in a combination formula.  

3. Wash your pet’s bedding and any blankets in hot water every couple of days. Heat will kill any fleas and their eggs but make sure to use chemicals and soaps that are pet-friendly and aren’t going to irritate their skin. 

4. Wash your pet using flea shampoo. Ask your vet or pet store for the best shampoo for your pet’s fur and skin. While these shampoos might kill the fleas directly on your pet, they won’t knock out the infestation in your home so it’s important to take other methods as well. 

5. Use a flea comb. Flea combs are a special comb that is fine enough to catch fleas. Have a bowl of warm soapy water handy to dunk them in once you comb them out. Continue to brush through your pet's fur for a few days to make sure the fleas aren’t reoccurring. 

6. Regular vet checkups. Vets can assess risk factors for fleas and other parasites based on your area and recommend preventative care, such as a monthly medication. 

7. Vacuum your house and mow lawns. Only 5% of the flea population lives on your pet with the other 95% living in your home or outdoors. That’s why it’s important to vacuum regularly for any eggs or Larvae that may be living in the carpet and break the cycle. Keeping lawns short outside will also be beneficial in the fight against flea infections.   

While many vets approved or prescribed sprays and topical treatments are considered safe, some pets may still be sensitive to their ingredients. Stop any treatment if you notice it is causing irritation to your pet’s skin, or any other allergic response, and make sure to inform your vet of any sensitivities to medications or ingredients.  

What is the best flea and worm treatment for dogs? 

The best flea and worm treatment for dogs and cats is one that works best for your lifestyle and pet’s life stage.    

What is the best flea and worm treatment for dogs and cats? 

The best flea and worm treatment for dogs and cats is one that works best for your lifestyle and pet’s life stage.  There are many options to choose from when it comes to preventative treatments for your pet. Currently, some of the best on the market in terms of effectiveness and the latest research are chewable tablets that cover all parasites.

These tablets with brands such as NexGard is a monthly chewable tablet that covers fleas, worms and other parasites while Bravecto and Simparica Trio cover these parasites for up to 3 months, providing much longer protection for your pet. 

Different types of preventative treatments may suit your pet better than others: 

• Tablets can be hard to give to cats as they can be quite fussy. You could try crushing a tablet into their food, but you will need to make sure your cat eats all their food and watch they don’t spit it out or vomit afterwards. 
• If your dog likes to swim a lot, a tablet or chew may be a better choice, even water-resistant products may lose their effectiveness in the water 
• Chew tablets can work well for dogs as they are flavoured and can be given as a treat, otherwise if your dog is fussy, you can crush the tablet up and place it in their food 
• Some cat treatments come in a syrup form and can be squirted straight in the mouth or mixed into their food 
• Spot on treatments is great for pets that won’t take any tablets or syrups by mouth but may not be a good idea if you have kids patting or cuddling the pet or if your pet is predominantly indoors as the chemicals can rub off on furniture and bedding 
• Flea collars may also pose a risk for children touching their pets and cause some skin irritation around your pets' neck 
• If you live in a heartworm area you might want to consider an annual dose of injectable heartworm prevention from your vet for your dog. This is a great choice if you think you will forget to give monthly heartworm prevention which is crucial to the health of your dog 

What is the cheapest way to get rid of fleas and worms? 

Supermarkets might not be the cheapest place to buy products. Check out online pet suppliers and price matches to find the best deals. Combination products such as NexGard can be cheaper than buying them separately plus it will be more convenient to give one medication rather than separate. However, the cost will largely depend upon ingredients, newer and more effective flea and worm treatments are generally more expensive than older ones. 

Make sure you always give the correct dosage of preventative treatments to your pet based on their weight and what works best for their lifestyle and health.Our certified Your Pet PA experts on NZ is now ready to help you. Make an appointment today for more advice on your pet's preventative care needs.

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