Parasite Prevention

Your pet is likely to encounter lots of other furry friends while out and about, and also the fun bugs they leave behind! Ensure your pet is up to date with their vaccinations at least one month prior to heading off on your holiday. This is important not only to offer them the protection they need, but also if you need to put your dog into a boarding facility while away.   

Dogs can play host to a number of intestinal parasites, and they don’t even have to meet another dog to pick them up.  We recommend administering a de-worming treatment to your pet prior to your departure to ensure they remain in good health and to reduce the spread of intestinal parasites. Tasmania require dogs to have been administered a hydatid treatment at least 14 days prior to entry to the state.

Paralysis ticks are commonly found in coastal areas and some bushland and their toxin cause life threatening paralysis of the respiratory and skeletal muscles. Fortunately, parasite prevention such as Bravecto or Nexgard Spectra are effective in producing long lasting protection against ticks. Some ticks can carry blood borne parasites, therefore we recommend the use of a tick repellent collar such as a Soresto collar, in addition to Bravecto or Nexgard Spectra.

Heartworm is a worm that is spread by mosquitoes and causes potentially fatal disease. Many people incorrectly assume that an intestinal worming treatment will also protect against heartworm, but not all parasite prevention products offer heartworm prevention. Heartworm prevention can be administered as a monthly treatment or annual injection. If administering a monthly treatment, it is important to read the directions closely, as most ‘monthly’ preventatives need to be given every 28 days.

For more advice on how to safely travel with your pet, Click here.