Parasite Treatment

We have tailored our parasite prevention protocols to suit your pet and your lifestyle and are quite specific in the products we recommend as we know they work.

Intestinal Worms

Intestinal worms live in the gastrointestinal tract of cats and dogs and include roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and whipworms. They can cause severe diarrhoea and illness, especially in puppies and kittens or in the elderly or immunocomprimised patient. Worming is usually done with a tablet or drops on the back of the neck. We have puppy worming protocols that are easy for our clients to follow.

Paralysis Tick

This tick is common along the east coast of Australia north of Lakes Entrance. Once attached to your pet, the tick engorges and injects a toxin that causes paralysis. This can cause death as the muscles used to breathe are paralysed. Initial signs can be weakness in the back legs, coughing or regurgitation. If you are travelling with your pet please call us at the clinic as there are specific products that can be used to help prevent this potentially fatal condition. Here at Rye Vet Clinic we have see pets with paralysis ticks attached to them -this can be due to people travelling with their pets and also other pets or people visiting that have been in the paralysis tick area.

Heartworm Prevention and testing

Heartworm is spread by mosquitos and is more common the further north in Australia you travel. There have however ben confirmed cases diagnosed in Melbourne. The worms can grow to 30cm in length and become lodged in your pet’s heart, causing heart failure and death. Treatment can be difficult and expensive. Prevention using products that we recommend is the best option. Note that intestinal all wormer products DO NOT prevent heartworm infection. Sometimes a blood test will be recommended to detect if your pet has been infected with heartworm.

Fleas

Fleas are so common on the peninsula and not just in the warmer months. They cause itching, hair loss, rashes, changes in behaviour and can also trigger other skin allergies. Flea prevention involves products we recommend used regularly. Certain flea products are toxic to cats and rabbits so please be aware of this and ask for our advice.