For the long-term health and wellbeing of your pet and your family, it is essential that you routinely use proven, preventative treatments against the most common parasites throughout your pet’s life. Remember that prevention is much easier and cost-effective than a cure. Leadon Vale flea and worm treatment will ensure a better quality of life for your pets.

To determine the level of parasite treatment your pet needs, we will work with you to carry out a risk assessment based on your pet’s lifestyle and behaviour.

Book a flea and worm treatment appointment

Flea Treatments

Fleas are one of the most common external parasites in pets and are the cause of many skin problems. Although you may only see fleas on your pet, they are continually shedding eggs in your home and can lead to a home flea infestation. Flea bites to you and your family can be costly and complicated to treat. Did you know the adult flea can stay in its cocoon for up to 6 months before it emerges?

Although fleas are small, they can make your pet miserable. Once on your pet, fleas can bite every 5 minutes leaving your cat or dog itchy and uncomfortable. You only need to bring one flea inside your home to start an infestation. One female flea can produce enough eggs to escalate the problem in your home quickly.

Fleas live on a variety of animals such as rabbits and hedgehogs, as well as cats and dogs. When your pet is outdoors, fleas from the eggs left behind by other animals can jump on your pet. Once on your pet, they feed on his or her blood and start laying eggs.

We commonly recommend Nexgard Spectra, which is a chewable tablet given monthly. This protects against fleas, worms, ticks, lungworm and mites.

Some pets may have specific needs, for example, travelling abroad, so please discuss with us what will be most suitable for your pet.

Treating your pet with our vet recommended treatment plan will effectively kill fleas and disrupt their life cycle.

Worms

Various worms can infect your pets, and they can pose a threat to your family. Worms that target pets include roundworms, hookworms, lungworms, and tapeworms, and they are prolific across the United Kingdom. Certain worm can produce more than 100,000 eggs per day, which are then passed in the pet’s faeces and spread throughout their living environment.

Your family can accidentally ingest worm eggs that have been passed through your pet’s faeces. The eggs can then hatch in your intestinal tract, and the worms can travel to various tissues in the body, including the eyes and brain, potentially causing serious infections.

Worms are a year-round threat, and the only way to keep your pet and family safe is through proactive actions to get the best products. Lungworm, which is passed on by slugs and snails, is potentially fatal and many over the counter products do not tackle this worrying parasite.

Please be aware that many products available elsewhere other than sold at Leadon Vale Veterinary Practice may be ineffective at treating all the species of worms and fleas your pet could get. There are many ranges of worming treatments available, including tablets, liquids, granules and spot-on.

Book a flea and worm treatment appointment

Tick Treatment 

Ticks are normally found in rural areas, especially where other animals graze. Ticks attach themselves to your pets as they brush past. To start off with they are tiny but as they feed on your pet's blood, they grow rounder and larger.

Ticks are especially dangerous for dogs as they tend to love countryside walks; they can cause anaemia in adult pets (and indeed also humans), however, the main risk is Lyme Disease.

Pet owners should be especially careful when travelling abroad, as ticks in warmer climates carry further serious illnesses.

How to Remove Ticks

You should never remove ticks by pulling them out, as all that you are doing is detaching the tick's body from its head, which stays buried in the pet's skin. Ticks have very strong jaws that will remain lodged in the skin of your pet and may cause further infections.

The best way is to obtain tweezers specifically designed to remove ticks. They do so by gripping the tick close to the mouthparts and all you need to do is twist it out, which will release it safely.

Protecting Your Pet From Ticks


Flea and Worm Treatment For Your Dog Leadon Vale Veterinary Centre in LedburyTicks are a common parasite that can affect pets, and at Leadon Vale Vets, we urge pet owners to be aware of the risks associated with tick bites and to take steps to prevent them.

Ticks can transmit diseases to pets, including Lyme disease. These diseases can cause serious health problems for pets, and in some cases, can even be fatal. Therefore, it is important to take preventative measures to protect your pets from tick bites.

Here are some tips for tick prevention in pets:

  1. Use a tick-preventative treatment - There are many different tick-preventative products available, including spot-on treatments, collars, and oral medications. These treatments work by killing ticks before they have a chance to bite and can be a highly effective preventative measure.

  2. Check your pet for ticks regularly - After spending time outside, be sure to thoroughly check your pet for ticks. Ticks can attach anywhere on the body but are most commonly found around the head, ears, neck, and feet. If you find a tick, use tweezers to carefully remove it, making sure to get the entire tick and avoiding crushing it.

  3. Keep your garden tidy - Ticks thrive in tall grass and other vegetation, so keeping your garden well-maintained and mowed can help to reduce the tick population.

  4. Avoid walking in wooded or brushy areas - These are high-risk areas for ticks, and avoiding them can help reduce the risk of tick bites.

  5. Talk to your vet - Your vet can provide guidance on tick-preventative products and offer recommendations based on your pet's individual needs.

By following these tips and taking preventative measures, you can help protect your pets from the risks associated with tick bites. If you have any concerns or questions about tick prevention for your pet, be sure to call Alder Vets today.

Parasite Control: Hazards in our local community

Fleas, worms and other parasites can be caught at parks local to Leadon Vale such as:

  • Ledbury Recreation Ground
  • Ledbury Park 
  • Malvern Hills
  • Shropshire Hills
  • Brecon Beacons National Park
  • Breinton Springs
  • Herefordshire Trail

Parks are a breeding ground for parasites, especially in the warmer months from April to October. As a pet owner, you do not want to deprive your beloved pet of the chance to make friends, and you certainly do not want to limit the opportunity to be outside. But, if it seems like all the other pets are itching, scratching and playing with slugs and other parasite carriers, what is a pet owner to do?

Don’t live in fear of parasites; every year we help hundreds of pet owners just like yourself have a parasite-free pet. Not only will you save money on veterinary costs, but you will give your pet the quality of life they deserve.

For more information, please contact our friendly team.

Spread the cost of essential healthcare for your pet

Logo - Pet Health for Life

To spread the cost of routine worming and flea treatment for your pet, Leadon Vale Veterinary Practice offer the Pet for Life Health plan, which includes parasite control for your pet.

Click here to find out more and to sign up online

Frequently Asked Questions:

What happens to my pet if they don't have flea and worm treatment?

When it comes to worm treatment, there may be severe consequences if ignored. Depending on the type of worm your pet can experience irritation such as intestinal blockages, obstruction of blood flow in the heart, artery inflammation, anaemia, and even death if left untreated.

Can you get combined flea and worm treatment for pets?

There are combined flea and worm treatments you can get for your pets, also known as an all-in-one flea and wormer. However, it's always best to consult your veterinary practice as these treatments don't cover some types of worms. Your pet may also have complications that combined treatments don't cover.

How often does my pet need flea and worm treatment?

Once every month, you should treat your pet for fleas, and every two to three months, or even more frequently, for worms. Depending on your pet's lifestyle, talk to your vet about the best course of action.

How long should I wait between worming and flea treatments?

Many people wonder if they can treat their cats for fleas and worms at the same time or how long they should leave between treatments. Depending on the two treatments being administered you may need to wait either 48 hours or two weeks between treatments. Please ask your vet when picking up your flea and worm treatment how to apply the two treatments most effectively and safely.

Do indoor cats need flea and worm treatment?

Every cat, even indoor cats, need regular flea and worm preventative treatments. It is a common misconception that an exclusively indoor cat does not need these treatments – this is not true at all. Fleas commonly travel on clothes and bags and so may be brought into the house at any time. A cat could even pick up fleas during a trip to a vet, especially where other pets may not have been treated.

Does my rabbit need flea and worm treatment?

You must consistently employ effective, preventative medicines against the most prevalent parasites throughout the lifespan of your rabbit to ensure their wellbeing and long-term health, as well as that of your family and Rabbits. Keep in mind that prevention is much simpler and less expensive than treatment. Rabbits also suffer from several other parasites and conditions, such as Mites, Flystrike, and E. cuniculi.


Leadon Vale Veterinary Centre Ltd