Pet Parasites

Parasites live on or in our pets, and sometimes us, and can cause a range of signs. From ectoparasites, who live on the skin, to endoparasites, who live inside our pets, parasites are found inhabiting all our pet species and are a frequent reason for our pets to end up visiting their local vet! To find out more about the parasites your pet could be at risk from, and how you can protect them, follow our handy links below.

Mites And Your Ferret

Mites live on the skin of your ferret, can make them itchy, uncomfortable, keeping your ferret mite-free will keep them feeling great!
Fleas and Your Ferret

Ferrets who have any interaction with wild animals, or other household pets such as cats and dogs, are most at risk and can have nasty reactions.
Cryptosporidium And Your Reptile

Cryptosporidia are a type of protozoa – a microscopic, single-celled parasite – which live in the intestines and can have devastating consequences.
Roundworms And Your Dog

Roundworms are very common in the UK – in fact studies have shown that over 20% of dogs and cats may be actively infected at any one time! Learn more here.
Mites And Your Cat

Mites live on the skin of your cat, and can make them itchy, uncomfortable and looking less than their best. Keeping your cat mite-free will keep them feeling and looking great!
Fleas And Your Small Pet

Fleas aren’t fussy, and will take a bite from most warm-blooded animals. This includes small furries, such as hamsters, Guinea-pigs and rats, who usually pick them up from other pets in the home.
Ticks And Your Reptile

Having scales isn’t always enough to protect against biting parasites. Ticks are nasty, blood-sucking parasites with powerful mouthparts. These can pierce even scaled skin, which means even our reptiles are not safe from the risk of tick bites. While indoor reptiles are at very low risk of tick bites, our roaming reptiles such as tortoises are more likely to be affected.
Ticks And Your Cat

Cats are fastidious creatures, and their regular coat cleaning means they are much less likely to pick up ticks than dogs. Click here to find out more.
Lungworm And Your Dog

Lungworm is a deadly parasite, which lives in slugs and snails. Keeping your dog protected against lungworm is a key part of keeping them happy and healthy.
Toxoplasma And Your Cat

While lots of warm-blooded animals, including humans, can be infected with and carry toxoplasma, cats are the only ‘definitive host’.
Tritrichmonas And Your Cat

Tritrichomonas is a microscopic parasite which lives in the large intestines of cats, where it causes diarrhoea. Without intervention, affected cats may have diarrhoea for several years before clearing the infection naturally! Although cats of all ages can develop tritrichomonas diarrhoea, it is most commonly seen in young cats and kittens, and these cats often have a history of being in multi-cat environments such as rescue shelters.
Mites And Your Small Furry

Did you know there are actually many species of mites? Small and spider-like, with four pairs of legs, mites are actually a group on their own!
Ticks And Your Ferret

Find out if your pet ferret could potentially be at risk of catching ticks and how to check for them with this useful pet health advice from Vets4Pets.
Coccidiosis And Your Reptile

Coccidiosis is caused by a single-celled parasite, or protozoa, and can be especially dangerous to Bearded Dragons.
Giardia And Your Cat

Giardia are a type of protozoa – a microscopic, single-celled parasite – which lives in the small intestines. Affected cats can get nasty diarrhoea, as well as spreading the parasite to others – including us!
Heartworms And Your Cat

Heartworms are thankfully not found in the UK, but are a risk for cats that travel abroad – although cats are at a much lower risk than dogs.
Hookworms And Your Cat

Hookworms are a small type of roundworm. Despite their small size, however, they can still cause problems in our cats, although less frequently than in dogs.
Protecting Your Dog From Fleas

Itching to protect your dog from fleas? They're a common complaint in dogs causing irritation, disease & tapeworms. Find out more about dog flea protection.
Hookworms And Your Dog

Hookworms are blood sucking intestinal worms. Small and difficult to spot, in large enough numbers they can suck enough blood to cause serious anaemia, especially in puppies. Hookworm infection is rare in the UK.
E. Cuniculi And Your Rabbit

E. cuniculi is a microscopic brain and kidney parasite. While many rabbits can carry the parasite and show no signs, others can develop deadly disease.

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