Summer Parasites and How to Protect Your Pets

The sun isn't the only thing coming out of the dark this summer. Lots of people may feel like they thrive better in the warmer months and pesky bugs and parasites are no different! Fleas, ticks, and other insects and parasites can be found everywhere – another concern to worry about in addition to the sun and heat. These parasites can be very dangerous (and potentially fatal) for our furry friends as they can carry tapeworms, heartworms, and many other diseases and infections. 

As pet owners, it’s important to understand the kinds of pet parasites that may come about and know how to effectively protect your pets from them. Here are some of the parasites that you should know about.

Fleas

Fleas are one of the most common and well-known pet parasites. These tiny wingless creatures live in your pet’s fur, causing discomfort. Flea bites cause irritation, uncharacteristic scratching and itching, irritated skin, scabs and wounds and hair loss. Once picked up, a flea infestation can spread rapidly, as fleas are known for their rapid reproduction rates.  

Fleas don’t only impact our pets – they can affect us too! They can easily spread throughout a household, infesting beds, carpets, rugs, and furniture. 

Ticks

There are many species of ticks that reside in Australia. The most common and the one that poses the greatest risk to cats and dogs are paralysis ticks. These ticks are found along the east coast of Australia and target cats and dogs. Outdoor cats and dogs are at higher risk of these parasites as they tend to lurk in bushy or grassy areas. 

Heartworm

Heartworm impacts dogs more than cats. Heartworm disease may be contracted if a pet is bitten by a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae. As this disease is carried by mosquitos (which are common around Australia) all pets are susceptible to infection, even if they are indoor pets. With the increase of hanging around outside, especially during night-time, it is especially important to protect your pets from these summer-loving pests.

Intestinal Worms

Intestinal worms refers to a group of internal parasites that can severely impact the health of your cats and dogs and cause discomfort. These parasites are also a risk to people as they can be infected if the eggs are accidentally swallowed. 

The main kinds of intestinal worms that infect pets are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms. There are many ways that cats and dogs can be infected by this parasite; by ingesting eggs, consuming tapeworm cysts in raw meat, or by consuming rodents, lizards, or other secondary hosts that have ingested eggs. Hookworms can cause infection by breaking through the skin if the pet walks on soil containing the parasite. 

Now that you know about the different kinds of parasites that can endanger your much-loved pets, you may be wondering, how do I protect them? The best means of protection is to provide your pet with preventative parasite treatment and protection to avoid any infestations.

That’s where Pet Lovers Club comes in! With Pet Lovers Club, you can get your complete personalised parasite protection for your pets delivered to your door monthly. Join thousands of Aussies protecting their pets from nasty parasites, and join Pet Lovers Club today.

For a limited time, get your first month of Pet Lovers Club for only $5!