Parasites
Animals can pick up a variety of parasites which can lead to disease and affect your pet's quality of life. Unfortunately some of these parasites can also affect humans. Small children are especially at risk of picking up parasites from the family pet, so preventative parasite control is important for the health of your pet as well as the health of your family. The most common internal parasites of cats and dogs include a variety of intestinal worms and lungworm. External parasites of cats include fleas, ticks and lice.
Lungworm
Lungworm is a relatively new parasite to the UK, but is particularly prevalent throughout Surrey and Middlesex. It can cause potentially fatal diseases in dogs as the worm lives in the heart and lungs where it can cause blood clots and sudden onset bleeding problems as well as heart failure. Dogs that contract lungworm often show only vague signs of unwell so are usually not presented to the vet until the parasite has caused significant damage, which can lead to death.
The hosts of the larval parasite include slugs, snails, toads and foxes making most dogs at risk of coming in contact with the parasite. We recommend monthly treatment of all dogs against this disease, and it is over the counter spot-on treatments do not protect against lungworm. Prescription medications are available from Beech House. Please call us to discuss your pet's requirements.
Advocate is the only monthly preventative treatment for Lungworm. It is a spot on treatment applied to the skin on the back of your dog's neck once a month.
See our Offers page for promotions available on Advocate at Beech House.
Intestinal Worms
There are many intestinal worms that affect dogs, cats and rabbits. Some of these worms are acquired before your pet is even born, so treatment is recommended for all animals. Worms can cause a variety of problems from mild vomiting and diarrhoea, weight loss, anaemia and even blockage in extreme cases.
Some worms can also pass to humans and pose a public health risk, especially to children. We urge you only to use treatments which we know are proven to be effective and safe. We will discuss your animals worming requirements at vaccinations and advise you on the most effective and appropriate treatments or you can ring to
make an appointment with one of our veterinary nurses.
Fleas, Ticks & Lice
Fleas are found everywhere outside, so all animals are potentially at risk. Fleas, ticks, lice and mites can be an intense irritation to both you and your pets and cause severe skin disease. Fleas jump onto your pet and once there start biting and sucking blood. Every flea will lay 50-100 eggs in its short lifespan, and most of these will end up around your house. It therefore doesn’t take long for numbers in the house to multiply, causing a 
problem. With central heating as well this allows year round survival of these bugs.
Lice, ticks and mites are picked up outside but also through contact with other infected animals. We have several different treatment options for all these parasites, so please call us for an appointment to discuss this 
with one of our vets or nurses.