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Flea & Worming Treatments in Stroud & Stonehouse
If you've spotted one flea on your pet, there are likely many more hiding in your home. Because most of a flea infestation exists as eggs, larvae and pupae, effective treatment means treating both your pet and your home to break the cycle.
Understanding fleas
If you have spotted a flea on your pet, there are almost certainly many more you have not seen. Adult fleas can make up less than five percent of any infestation. The remaining 95% exists as eggs, larvae and pupae in your home, in carpets, soft furnishings and bedding, waiting to hatch. They can survive in these life stages for up to 12 months, which is why ongoing treatment for your pet and treating the house is important if you have seen fleas.
Fleas can cause significant problems beyond the discomfort of itching. Some pets develop flea allergic dermatitis that causes intense itching, hair loss and skin infections. Fleas can also carry tapeworm larvae, which is why flea control and worming often need to go hand in hand.
Effective flea control means treating your pet regularly throughout the year, not just when you spot a problem. It also means treating your home if an infestation has already taken hold. We can advise on the right environmental treatments and how to break the flea life cycle.
Understanding worms
Dogs and cats in the UK are exposed to several types of worms and the risks vary depending on species, your pet's age and their lifestyle.
Roundworms (also known as Toxocara) are extremely common, particularly in puppies and kittens. They can be passed from an infected mother to her offspring before birth or through her milk. Toxocara can also be picked up from contaminated soil. Toxocara can also infect humans, particularly children, causing a condition called toxocariasis. So, regularly worming your pets is genuinely important.
Tapeworms are typically contracted through fleas and are often swallowed during grooming, which is one of the key reasons flea control and worming need to go hand in hand. Tapeworms are another parasite that can also infect people, though this is uncommon in the UK, fortunately.
Lungworms are spread through contact with infected slugs and snails or their slime trails. Lungworm symptoms are often vague and easily mistaken for other conditions, but they can include coughing, breathing difficulties, lethargy, weight loss, digestive upset and unexplained bleeding or poor blood clotting.
How often should I treat my pet?
The honest answer is that it depends. General veterinary guidance on flea and worming treatments suggests that most adult dogs and cats should be wormed at least every three months, but more frequently if they hunt, scavenge or live in households with young children. Puppies and kittens need treatment much more often in their early months: typically every two weeks until 12 weeks old, then monthly until six months.
Flea treatment frequency varies by product. Some spot-on treatments last four weeks, others for up to three months. Some combined products cover fleas, ticks and certain worms together, which can simplify things considerably. If you are not sure whether what you are using is working, a nurse clinic appointment is the ideal place to talk it through.
Ticks
Ticks are not worms, but they should be part of the same preventative care conversation. They are most active in spring and autumn, particularly in areas with woodland, long grass or deer. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease to both dogs and humans, which makes prompt removal important.
Some flea treatments also protect against ticks. If you are walking your dog in higher-risk areas, tick prevention is worth discussing at your next appointment. We can also advise on the correct way to remove a tick safely if you find one.
Why trust Bowbridge Vets with your flea and worming treatments?
Parasite prevention is something we take seriously because the right treatment, used properly, makes a genuine difference to your pet's health and comfort. Here is why our clients trust us to get it right:
- Prescription-strength products. Many of the most effective parasiticides are not available over the counter. We can prescribe treatments that are genuinely suited to your pet's specific needs.
- Advice tailored to your pet's lifestyle. A hunting cat needs different treatment to an elderly house dog. We take time to understand your pet before making any recommendation.
- A routine you can actually stick to. We can help you build a simple, realistic treatment schedule.
- Part of your wider preventative care. Flea and worming advice fits naturally into clinic appointments, so it does not need to be a separate visit.
If you are unsure whether your current routine is giving your pet the protection they need, just ask. A quick conversation at your next appointment is often all it takes to put the right plan in place.
Why Choose Bowbridge Vets?
Bowbridge Vets has been caring for the pets of Stroud and Stonehouse since 1967. Our team of RCVS-registered vets and Registered Veterinary Nurses brings decades of combined clinical experience to every appointment, from routine preventative care to complex primary care cases.
Most of our team have been with us for many decades, which means your pet is seen by people who know them, and who they know.
As an independent practice, we are not part of a corporate group. Every clinical decision is made by the vet in front of you, based entirely on what is right for your pet.
Our clients trust us with their pets year after year. That trust, built over more than half a century in this community, is something we work hard to preserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
My pet does not have fleas. Do I still need to treat them?
Yes. Prevention is far easier than dealing with an established infestation. Fleas are not always visible, particularly in pets with dense or dark coats and by the time you spot one, there are likely hundreds more in various life stages around your home. Year-round treatment is the most reliable way to stop an infestation before it starts.
Can I use my dog's flea treatment on my cat?
No. Some flea treatments licensed for dogs contain permethrin, which is highly toxic to cats. Even a small amount of the wrong product applied to a cat can cause serious neurological symptoms. Always use species-specific products and check the label carefully. If you are unsure about anything, or you have concerns about your treated dog sleeping alongside your cat, please ask us before applying anything.
My dog ate a slug in the garden. Should I be worried?
It is worth taking seriously. Lungworm is spread by infected slugs and snails and the slime trail, itself, can carry larvae. Lungworm is not covered by standard worming products. So, if your dog is not on a treatment that specifically covers lungworm, let us know. Symptoms include coughing, breathing difficulties, poor blood clotting and unexplained bleeding. If your dog shows any of these signs, please contact us promptly.
How do I get rid of fleas in my house?
Treating your pet is the essential first step, but if there is an active infestation in the home, you also need to treat the environment. This means washing bedding on a hot wash, vacuuming thoroughly (including under furniture and along skirting boards) and using a household flea spray that contains an insect growth regulator (IGR). Flea pupae are highly resistant to products and can lie dormant for months, so treatment often needs to be repeated. We can advise on suitable household products.
My children play in the garden. Are they at risk from worms?
The primary risk to children is from Toxocara roundworms, which can be shed in infected pet faeces and survive in soil for years. The risk is significantly reduced by keeping your pet regularly wormed, picking up faeces promptly and encouraging children to wash their hands after handling pets or playing outdoors.
Do I need to worm my cat if it does not go outside?
Flea and worming treatments are less urgent for indoor cats, but the risk does exist. Roundworm eggs can be brought in on footwear or clothing, for example. Tapeworms can be contracted through fleas, which occasionally find their way indoors. We would still recommend a periodic worming routine for indoor cats, though the frequency may differ from that for outdoor cats. We can advise based on your cat's individual circumstances.
How do I know if my pet has worms?
Many pets show no obvious signs of worm infection, which is exactly why preventative treatment matters. When symptoms do appear, they can include a pot-bellied appearance (particularly in puppies), visible worm segments in faeces or around the tail, scooting, weight loss, diarrhoea or a dull coat. With lungworm, symptoms relate more to breathing and blood clotting. If you notice any of these signs, please contact us.