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Town and Country Veterinary Services | Auckland, New Zealand

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May 15 2023

Kitten Protecting them from parasites

Home » Kitten Protecting them from parasites

Protecting kittens from parasites

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new kitten from, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas and ticks. Whilst some treatments cover all of these parasites, it’s best to talk to your vet about the treatment that’s right for your cat and location.

Whether it’s oral chews or spot-on products it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your kitten home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new kitten from, including intestinal worms and fleas.

Whether it’s oral chews or spot-on products, it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your kitten home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

Fleas and ticks

Fleas

Fleas are one of the most problematic parasites for pets, with the ability to cause skin disease and allergic reactions. In addition, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a kitten with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas!

That is why flea treatments should be used every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively. Please consult our veterinary team for the best advice on flea prevention for your kitten.

Fleas commonly cause itching, skin disease and allergic reactions in kittens. What’s more, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a kitten with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas!

That’s why flea treatments should be given every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively.

Ticks

There are several types of ticks in Australia, some of which are a nuisance, such as the bush tick, right through to the deadly paralysis tick. Paralysis ticks are a common parasite for those living near the eastern seaboard of Australia. They can result in symptoms such as breathing difficulty, weakness or paralysis of the legs and vomiting.

Paralysis tick Cattle tick Bush tick Brown dog tick

Tick prevention products include:

Oral chews
Spot-on products
Tick collars
Sprays
Rinses

Our team are happy to advise the best preventative for your kitten. Importantly, even when a prevention product has been applied, you should check your kitten for ticks during tick season. Simply run your fingertips over the skin, checking for lumps. Most ticks reside on the head, neck, and ears, but you must check the entire body.

Intestinal Worms

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines and feed on the nutrients that the kitten consumes. The most common intestinal worms in Australia are roundworm, tapeworm and hookworm. If left untreated, these parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way for kittens to become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources. To protect your kitten regular worming treatments should be provided.

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines and feed on the nutrients that the kitten consumes. If left untreated, these parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way for kittens to become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources.

Following the below worming protocol will keep your kitten free from intestinal worms:

To protect your kitten regular worming treatments should be provided. Following the below worming protocol will keep your kitten free from intestinal worms:

every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age
then once a month until 6 months of age,
And every 3−6 months for life.

Member Advantage

You can purchase parasite treatments next time you come into our clinic. Plus, Best for Pet members get 10% off Best for Pet members get 10% off parasite prevention.

Pet Health

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