Flea & Worm Treatment: Puppies & Kittens

For most healthy pups, their first flea treatment should be given when they are six to eight weeks old. The exact time of their first flea treatment will depend on the weight of your puppy and the type of treatment used. Your vet will be able to advise you on which products are suitable and when exactly to use them.

Lots of the flea treatments available also cover your puppy for other parasites such as worms, ticks, and mites.

Examples of prescription-only medication your vet can prescribe include:

●      Stronghold (selamectin) is used to treat fleas and also works against heartworms, intestinal roundworms, ear mites, biting lice, and sarcoptic mange (scabies).

●      Bravecto (fluralaner) chewable tablets kill adult fleas and also have action against ticks. Bravecto tablets can be used in puppies from eight weeks of age and from two kg in weight. Bravecto is unique in that it lasts for twelve weeks, unlike other flea treatments that usually last for four weeks.

Other flea treatments you can buy online include:

This depends on what product you are using. Usually, for optimal protection, it's advised to give treatment every four weeks. Some treatments can be used more frequently to treat different parasites, but for fleas, it’s usually four-week intervals.

Young pups can be born with worms that have been passed by their mother. They only have immature immune systems, so they need a bit of extra help. Puppies should receive their first dose of worming treatment when they are two weeks old. They should then be given a dose at four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, and twelve weeks. Once your pooch reaches twelve weeks of age, they should be wormed every one month or three months depending on which product you use. This decision is based on what sort of lifestyle your dog has as different medication has a different duration of action.

Pregnant female dogs can pass worms onto their pups while they are still developing. It is important that the mother is wormed when she is pregnant to minimize the spread of parasites.

Examples of worming medication for puppies include:

●      Panacur (fenbendazole) This treats a wide range of parasites including tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, and Giardia infections, as well as lungworm in both dogs.

●      Milbemax (milbemycin oxime and praziquantel) is often used to combat tapeworm and roundworm infections and for the prevention of heartworm disease.

Other products available for you to buy online include:

Most healthy kitties' first application of flea treatment will start once they are six to eight weeks old. Your vet will be able to advise you on the exact age and treatment. Often this depends on the weight of the kitten and if there’s a bad flea infestation present. You should never use dog flea treatment on your cat as it may contain a chemical called permethrin which is extremely toxic to cats.

 

Some common prescription flea treatments include:

●      Stronghold (selamectin) is very effective at treating fleas, heartworms, Intestinal roundworms and hookworms, ear mites, and biting lice.

●      Advocate (imidacloprid and moxidectin) has action against fleas, roundworms, heartworms, ear mites, and lungworms.

Products you can buy online include:

 

How often you use flea treatment for your kitten does depend on which product you have chosen to use. Usually, most need to be applied every four weeks however some products can last up to 12 weeks.

 Kittens can be wormed from around 2 weeks of age. It’s important to always use the worming treatment following the product’s datasheet. A commonly used worming schedule is two weeks, five weeks, eight weeks then twelve weeks of age. Kittens then need to be wormed every month until they reach six months of age. After this, they can be wormed at least every three months. Some kittens that go outside and hunt a lot will need worming monthly into their adult life.

Worm treatments your vet may prescribe for your kitten include:

●      Panacur (fenbendazole) covers a range of worm infestations including hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, as well as lungworms.

●      Milbemax (milbemycin oxime and praziquantel) is often used to combat tapeworm and roundworm infections and for the prevention of heartworm disease.

Treatment options you can buy online include:

 

It’s important to note that flea and worm protocols for our pups and kitties are very different from older cats and dogs. Baby animals are often born with a worm burden from their mother so a different protocol is required to rid them of this before they get sick.

Older pets will still require a strict flea and worming regime, but it doesn't have to be as frequent as our baby pets. When searching for flea and wormer products for your pup and kitty, it is worth noting that veterinary medicine falls into four different distribution categories:

 

Medicine from your vet is usually POM-V, some of the medication linked above is classified as NFA-VPS. To purchase this product from our website, you’ll need to answer a few short questions to demonstrate to the person prescribing the drug that you know how to use the medication. Sometimes we need to call you to gather some more information before we can dispense the drug.

Choosing suitable worming and flea treatment for your new pup or kitty can be a daunting process. There are many different products out there and it can get confusing very quickly. Your vet will always be able to advise you which products are most appropriate for your precious pet according to their lifestyle. For more information on your fur baby’s health, check out the rest of our advice articles or visit your local vet.