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Protecting Your Pets & Family from Parasites
Pet owners often face invisible threats from worms and other parasites affecting dogs and cats. Knowing how to prevent and treat these infections is crucial to keeping both pets and families safe from serious health risks.
Veterinary experts Stephen Walsh and Lesley Hobson, with years of hands-on experience in companion animal practice, share their insights:
Things We Spoke About
Why puppies and kittens need worming every two weeks until twelve weeks old:
Puppies and kittens can get roundworms from their mother before birth or through her milk.
Public parks and parasite risk:
A Trinity Dublin study found that 75% of public spaces contain viable Toxocara eggs, which survive for years in damp Irish conditions.
Zoonotic dangers:
Roundworm infection has been linked to a wide range of diseases in people, the most well-known being ocular migrans—an eye condition that can lead to blindness. One study found that nine out of every 100,000 school children in Ireland were affected.
Sandpits:
Always cover sandpits to prevent cats, dogs, and wildlife from using them as litter trays.
Protective habits:
Hand washing, picking up poo, and monthly worming are vital for protecting immunocompromised families and children from environmental contamination.
Lungworm (French heartworm):
Dogs can be infected by ingesting snails, slugs, grass blades, frogs, puddles, and water bowls. Lungworm is present in foxes all across Ireland and may cause a range of diseases, including sudden death in dogs without warning signs.
Tapeworm:
Rice-like segments may appear in pet stools from flea or raw meat ingestion, but tapeworm rarely causes significant disease in Ireland.
Flea detection:
Flea dirt turns red on wet paper, revealing a blood meal. Fleas can lay up to 50 eggs daily, infesting beds and carpets; central heating enables year-round survival.
Flea allergies:
Even without an obvious flea infestation, pets can suffer severe allergic reactions.
Cat Scratch Disease & Lyme Disease:
Fleas and ticks can transmit infections that affect people. Remove ticks gently, ideally with special tools.
Quotes from the Experts
"Although we think we can see fleas, they're actually really fast and hard to spot. Some pets might not have a massive infestation but could still be itchy and irritated. Flea allergy is very common. Just because you can't see fleas, don't presume they're not there." — Lesley Hobson
"If you have a new puppy or kitten, you may have seen roundworms in their poo—they look like white spaghetti and can grow up to 15 centimetres long. These roundworms can affect both our pets and us." — Stephen Walsh & Lesley Hobson
"A Trinity Dublin study examined public parks and found that 75% had viable roundworm eggs." — Stephen Walsh
"Ocular migrans is an eye disease caused by roundworms, sometimes leading to blindness. In a study of 200,000 Irish school children, nine in 100,000 had this condition. That's quite scary." — Lesley Hobson
"Worming your pet kills the worms present today, but if your pet is re-exposed, they can become reinfected." — Lesley Hobson
Meet Your Hosts
Stephen Walsh:
With nearly a decade of small animal veterinary experience, Stephen has worked in Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, and most recently Sydney, Australia. In April 2022, he joined Zoetis in a veterinary role, embracing new challenges and opportunities.
Lesley Hobson:
Raised on a farm and active in her local pony club, Lesley always aspired to be a vet. After graduating from University College Dublin’s Veterinary School, she worked in various companion animal practices across the UK and Ireland. Since 2012, Lesley has been with Zoetis, helping Irish vets and pet owners stay informed about key disease areas. At home, she enjoys the company of her adorable pet hamster, Honey.
About Zoetis
As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: nurturing our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After more than 70 years of innovation in predicting, preventing, detecting, and treating animal illness, Zoetis continues to support those who raise and care for animals worldwide—from farmers to veterinarians and pet owners. Their portfolio of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies makes a difference in Ireland and over 100 countries.
Find out more: zoetispets.com/ie-en
Have a question about your pet? Send your voicenote to 087 77 54 555!
