Preventative care for our precious pets is an important and easy way to prolong and improve their quality of life, ensuring we have them with us for years to come. Both cats and dogs require protection against common parasites such as fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm, and intestinal worms. Here at Ripley Vet Hospital, our aim is to ensure every pet we see is up to date with their preventatives.

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Fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal worms are prolific year-round and can affect not only our fur babies but also adults and children in the household. If your pet has a flea or tick infestation, they may develop skin irritation, redness, vomiting, or diarrhoea. Blood loss can cause anaemia, and the paralysis tick can cause life-threatening paralysis. Intestinal worms can make pets seriously ill and easily spread between animals without proper protection. Heartworm disease is also a severe condition that can lead to heart failure if left untreated.

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For both dogs and cats, we recommend Bravecto as a reliable preventative. Bravecto products cover your pet for mites and other parasites that many supermarket products do not. Bravecto Plus for cats protects against fleas, ticks, ear mites, heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm, with each treatment lasting 10 weeks.

For complete protection, pets also require a tapeworm tablet that covers them for 3 months.

 

For dogs and puppies, Bravecto offers multiple options: monthly, 3-monthly, and 6-monthly treatments against fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, and demodex mites. Puppies can start treatment as early as 8 weeks. Additionally, we offer Bravecto Quantum, a 12-month injectable flea and tick preventative, providing a convenient yearly option for dog owners. Heartworm disease prevention is also supported by the yearly SR12 injection, while intestinal worms are controlled with a 3-monthly tablet.

 

As part of our gold standard care here at Ripley Vet Hospital, we aim to make preventative care easy — including annual coverage for the deadly heartworm parasite and 3-monthly protection against intestinal worms, fleas, and ticks. If you’d like to get your little one up to date with their preventatives, please pop in and chat with one of our lovely receptionists, who can help find the most suitable options for your pet.

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What If My Cat is Indoors Only?

Indoor cats are still sensitive to fleas and ticks even if they don’t go outdoors. Unless your home is hermetically sealed, ticks and fleas can make their way inside. The best way to keep your cat safe is with regular preventative treatment.

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What If My Dog Doesn’t Visit Dog Parks, Beaches, or Kennels?

Heartworm is transferred by mosquitoes, meaning that your dog can contract it without socialising with other dogs. Fleas and ticks live in the environment, so even in urban areas your dog is susceptible to them if not on a preventative treatment. This is the same for intestinal worms and other parasites.