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Cat Flea Worm Treatment Combined

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How To Treat Fleas, Ticks & Worms In Cats

Ticks

While fleas are annoying, ticks can be deadly. The paralysis tick occurs mainly in spring and summer in Eastern Australia, and is found in long grass and the bush. Tick protection isn’t necessary for all dogs and cats, and depending on where you live, may not be needed all year round your vet can advise you on the situation in your local area. No tick preventative is 100% effective, so you still need to check your pet every day.

Treatments for dogs may contain permethrin-based chemicals that are poisonous for cats, so don’t use them interchangeably. Consider using a cat-safe product on your dog if you have a cat as well.

Flea and tick treatments can have side effects, especially vomiting and diarrhoea. But ticks, and sometimes even fleas, can also make your dog very sick. It’s a question of weighing up the risks of the medicine versus the risks of non-treatment in consultation with your vet.

Heartworm

Heartworm is a particularly nasty parasite transmitted by mosquitoes so even indoor pets can be affected. While dogs are the natural hosts, cats can also get heartworm, and even though they’re usually not as severely affected, it can still be fatal.

Lungworm

Intestinal worms

There’s no one chemical that can treat all intestinal worms tapeworms are treated with a different chemical to other worms.

Flea And Worm Treatments For Cats And Dogs

Cats and dogs all require regular flea and worm treatment. If your pet has fleas and is left untreated, they are susceptible to more serious health conditions such as anaemia and allergic dermatitis. Its really important to make sure your pets are up-to-date on their preventative care, which is why all of our clinics offer affordable and easy to apply treatments for cats and dogs.

Why You Should Trust Me

As Wirecutters pets writer, Ive covered everything from essential oil myths to how to get rid of fleas. Im also a lifelong pet owner and a shelter volunteer with over a decade of experience whos dealt with her share of pets with fleas, ticks, and other pests.

For this guide, I spoke with six professionals, from veterinarians to pesticide experts, about how to select the best flea and tick treatment for your pet. I spoke with Jennifer Gervais, a pesticide specialist at the National Pesticide Information Center, and Ken Labbe, a spokesperson for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about pesticide regulation. I consulted Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, about how to select the appropriate medication for your pet. I asked Dr. Tierra Price, a spay-neuter surgeon and founder of the BlackDVM Network, and Dr. Jennifer Welser, chief medical officer at , about their favorite flea and tick medications. And I discussed product safety with Dr. Tina Wismer, senior director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

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How To Spot Fleas

Usually, the first sign of a fleaor other pestinfestation is your pet frequently and aggressively scratching. Also, keep your eyes open for flea dirt, small black flecks that youll see on the floor and furniture . If youre worried that your dog or cat might have fleas, check their fur using a flea comb, paying attention to the base of the neck near the shoulder blades, as well as the tail and tummy. Remove as many as you can before giving your pet a bath and treating them with flea and tick medication.

Fleas rise to the top of your pets fur when they die, so dont worry if you see their remains after applying treatment. But if you continue to see living fleas in your home, its possible that flea eggs existed before you started using flea medication. Some owners may also skip treatments, thinking their pet was in the clear. But if the fleas havent been completely eradicated, they can multiply again. So be sure to keep up your treatments for as long as your vet recommends.

People think because they dont see fleas, that their cats and dogs dont have fleas, Price said. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you discover fleas on your pet, you discover only 5% of the infestation, echoed Welser of Mars Veterinary Health. The other 95% is hiding throughout your home in the form of eggs, larvae, and pupas.

  • The best way to prevent a flea infestation is to give your pet a flea preventative. But if the pests have already arrived, heres how to get rid of them.

Are There Any Potential Side Effects

Cat Flea And Worm Treatment Combined

Side effects are rare. A small percentage of cats may develop hair loss at the administration site. Other rare side effects include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, itchiness, redness, lethargy, salivation, and increased breathing rate. In dogs, seizures and incoordination have been rarely reported.

This long-acting medication may last up to 4 6 weeks, and may last longer in pets with kidney or liver disease.

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Products To Treat Intestinal Worms

There are many wormers available, and most do a reasonably good job. Look for two or more active ingredients including at least praziquantel plus one other. Always worm all the adult cats in a house at the same time.

Worming is necessary every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then every month until 6 months old, then every three months for life.

Are Flea Tick And Worm Treatments Safe

Safety is also a consideration. In September 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration released a statement warning about the risk of tremors and seizures in animals treated with products containing drugs in the isoxazoline class, which are used to combat fleas and ticks. However, the FDA said it still considers the products “safe and effective”.

Of the products listed below, the FDA highlighted Bravetco, Nexgard and Simparica as possible health risks.

Consider which parasites you need to protect against, in consultation with your vet. You’ll likely need more than one product to cover all the parasites, so discuss which products when taken together will do so. If you change one of your products, you may need to change others.

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What If I Forget To Give My Dog/cat/pet The Medication Or My Shipment Is Late

If using selamectin once monthly, give the dose as soon as you remember and start a new monthly dosing schedule. For example, if you forgot to give your pet his/her dose on June 1st and remember on June 18th, give the dose on June 18th and start a new monthly schedule. The next dose your pet will receive would be on July 18th. Do not give your pet two doses at once. Contact your veterinarian if you are concerned about a missed dose.

If using selamectin off label, give the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then wait the recommended amount of time between doses. Never give your pet two doses at once or give extra doses.

What Fleas Ticks And Worms Can Cats And Dogs Catch

Review of Advantage flea treatment & Dronspot worm treatment for cats

Fleas are small parasites that live all over the animals skin and survive their blood. Fleas can also live on humans clothes, the carpet, our bedding and in the long grass.

Ticks are also blood-sucking creatures and latch onto the pets skin in one place. Ticks are particularly dangerous as they can carry Lyme disease, which if contracted can be fatal for pets and humans. These tricky parasites are best removed with a specific tick tweezer. Ticks have to be carefully removed, which can be difficult, as their bodies can easily detach from their head, which remains buried in the skin.

Worms can develop if your pet ingests a flea, which contains tapeworm larvae, and it grows inside their digestive system.

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The Best Flea And Worm Treatments For Cats And Dogs

Fleas and worms can be a year-round problem for cats and dogs if left untreated and can have an adverse effect on your pets health in severe cases.

There are various flea and worm treatments available for cats and dogs which work best when your pet is treated regularly and with precision. Prevention is better than cure and since fleas are small and can easily bury in your pets fur, its best to treat your pet early and before they pick up any of these nasty parasites.

Our vets at Animal Trust are here to advise and help you learn about the best treatments for cats and dogs.

How To Use Bravecto Spot

Remove Bravecto from its child-safe packaging.

Hold the tube straight up and give the cap one twist to break the seal.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE CAP AS IT DOES NOT COME OFF

Ensure the animal’s back is horizontal. Part the hair and apply directly to the skin.

Apply at the base of the skull, to ensure wet product can’t be licked. For cats under 6.25 kg, apply in one spot. For cats over 6.25 kg, apply in 2 spots.

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How We Picked And Tested

To find the best flea and tick treatments, we spoke with six pet and pesticide experts about medications, side effects, active ingredients, and regulatory concerns. Our two veterinarians shared their personal product recommendations and shopping advice, which guided us in this review. They agreed that flea and tick treatments should both kill and protect against these bugs and work for at least 30 days. They also shared the favorite treatments they recommend to their own clients. We cross-referenced their advice with dozens of treatments sold across retailers like 1-800-PetMeds, Amazon, Chewy, Petco, and PetSmart, among others.

We categorized our search by orals/chews, topicals, collars, sprays, and shampoos. We dismissed sprays and shampoos because they offer protection for only days or a week at a time, and pet owners are more likely to misuse them compared with other products. That left us with eight brands of chews, topicals, and collars for cats or dogs. We selected the four brands that were highly recommended by our experts, that kill and protect against a wide range of pests, and that are sold across retailers at a variety of budgets.

How Often Should I Be Using These Treatments

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This will sometimes differ on a case-by-case basis.

“Generally speaking though, intestinal wormers should be started at 2 weeks of age and then topped up every 3 months. Heart wormers need to be given monthly for the best results. Any worming product that doesnt cover tapeworm will require an additional tapeworm solution to be given every 6 months to your pet in addition to what youre already using.”

Right now in the Australian market, theres chewable, spot on and collar treatments available for your pets. Each method offers protection for a combination of things including fleas and ticks or flea and worming. Youll also find treatments that are solely made for just fleas, ticks or worms so you can specifically treat for either.

“If youre giving your pet a flea chew and a worming tablet at the same time, consider waiting 24 hours between both tablets.” Polly suggests that this is a more ideal solution for sensitive tummies and increases the likelihood of the tablets effectiveness.

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Alternative Flea And Worm Treatments

Flea and worm sprays and shampoos are also available to treat your pet once they have picked up a bug.

With the right preventative treatment, your pets will remain protected all year round from fleas and worms. If you would like any information on the price of our flea and worm treatments or are unsure what preventative measures to take, speak to a member of our friendly veterinary team. Use our online booking form to make an appointment at your local clinic.

What About Flea Sprays

Flea sprays are cheaper than their topical or oral counterparts. But many products need weekly applications, so in the long run they arent as cost-effective or convenient as a monthly topical or chew. Since these treatments kill on contact, you also generally need to spray down your entire pet, which takes a lot more work than a couple of drops on the scruff of the neck.

Some treatments, like Advantage Treatment Spray for Dogs, direct owners to rub the spray around the pets eyes, nose, and mouth, and they can cause adverse reactions if ingested. Others, like Vets Best Flea & Tick Home Spray for Cats, contain essential oils that are toxic to cats. Some sprays also contain alcoholwhich sometimes isnt disclosedwarned the ASPCAs Wismer. If a pet is soaked with one of these products, they can actually become intoxicated, and this requires immediate veterinary care, she said.

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When In Doubt Ask Your Vet

The right treatment depends on your location, your activities, and your pets medical history. Pet owners who hike with their dogs have different needs than those who have house cats. Avoid just grabbing any box off the shelfinstead talk with your vet, who will be aware of recent pest outbreaks in the area, product recalls, and your pets medical history. All pesticides have risks, from skin irritation to seizures. We recommend only FDA-approved or EPA-registered treatments that both kill and protect against pests. All are regulated to ensure safety and efficacy, said Dr. Jennifer Welser of . Treatments that both destroy and defend against pests ensure that your pet is protected 24/7.

If your pet has a minor reaction to the flea and tick product, such as application site discomfort, dont freak out. I do see topical site reactions and its not common, but some animals just have more sensitive skin than others, said Dr. Tierra Price, whos a shelter veterinarian and the founder of the BlackDVM Network. She added that its best to consult your vet before switching to a different flea and tick treatment if youre worried about side effects.

Our experts said pet owners shouldnt dismiss these products entirely. Its possible there were multiple factors that could contribute to problems, noted Jennifer Gervais, a pesticide specialist with the National Pesticide Information Center, an EPA partner. We just dont know.

Your Guide To Worming Flea And Tick Treatments For Cats

How to apply Advocate spot-on flea & worm treatment to a cat

This article is written by Pet Circle Veterinarian, Dr CarlaPaszkowski

With an ever-growing number of parasite prevention products for pets released each year, it’snot surprising that Australian cat parents are left feeling a little confused.

What parasites are actually relevant in Australia? What parasite prevention does an indoorcat need? Which prevention is actually the most effective, and most importantly – which isthe safest?

We’ve put together a helpful guide to parasites and prevention products, so that you can besure you’re selecting the right product for your kitty cat!

Cat products that kill fleas: Comfortis, Advocate, Revolution, Seresto, Bravecto Plus and Bravecto.

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No Protection Against Ticks

Finally, none of the oral all-in-one products offer protection against ticks. Ask your veterinarian for advice on choosing a specific tick product.

Alternatively, you can may want to consider using a topical all-in-one product that offers flea, heartworm and tick coverage, such as Revolution.

No matter which flea and heartworm product you choose, always follow the instructions closely to ensure that you give the correct dose on schedule. Always contact your veterinarian if your dog shows any signs of discomfort or sickness after administration.

How To Choose The Best All

Flea and heartworm prevention are two important components of ensuring your dogs lifelong health.

Fleas can cause skin allergies, transmit tapeworm infection and infest the home environment, while heartworms can cause serious damage to a pets heart and lungs.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends year-round prevention of both heartworms and fleas for dogs throughout the United States, even in northern areas.

Currently, there are three all-in-one heartworm and flea pills for dogs, so how do you decide which is best for your pet? And what are the benefits to using these products? Here are some tips you can use to pick the right one.

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Faqs For Bravecto Plus For Cats

Product Gastro-intestinal worms Brown Dog Ticks

TWIST´N´USERemove Bravectogive the cap one twist to break the sealPLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE CAP AS IT DOES NOT COME OFF.horizontal

Roundworm is a common internal parasite that lives in the gastrointestinal tract of cats and kittens. Roundworm eggs can be picked up by eating infected rodents or from the kittens’ mother. The most common affects are vomiting, diarrohea, weight loss and a pot-bellied appearance.

Hookworm is another worm that lives in the small intestine of cats. Cats can become infected by ingesting the larvae in the environment , by eating infected rodents, or by larval penetration of the skin. Infection is more common in kittens.

Most infected cats show no signs. Anaemia occasionally occurs and is the result of bloodsucking by the worms in the small intestine. Faeces may become loose and have a tarry consistency. Loss of appetite and weight loss may also occur with long-term infections.

Bravecto Plus for Cats treats cats for roundworm and hookworms.

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