Flea & Worm Prevention Schedule

Published November 2025

Parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms are more than just unpleasant—they can cause serious health problems for your pet and sometimes pose risks to human health too. Prevention is far easier, safer, and more cost-effective than treating an infestation. This guide will help you create a year-round protection plan to keep your pet parasite-free.

Why Year-Round Prevention Matters

Many pet owners believe parasites are only a problem during warmer months, but this is a dangerous misconception. Here's why consistent, year-round prevention is essential:

• Indoor Environments: Modern heated homes provide ideal conditions for fleas to survive and breed throughout winter
• Parasite Lifecycles: Breaking the lifecycle requires consistent prevention—gaps in treatment allow parasites to re-establish
• Hidden Infestations: By the time you see one flea on your pet, there are likely hundreds of eggs and larvae in your home
• Mild Irish Winters: Our climate rarely gets cold enough to completely eliminate outdoor parasites
• Human Health: Some parasites can be transmitted to humans, particularly children

Understanding the Common Parasites

To protect your pet effectively, it helps to understand what you're protecting them from.

Fleas

What they are: Tiny, fast-moving insects that feed on your pet's blood.

Why they're a problem:

• Cause intense itching and scratching
• Can trigger flea allergy dermatitis in sensitive pets
• Transmit tapeworms
• Can cause anemia in young or small pets from severe infestations
• One female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day

The lifecycle: Only 5% of a flea infestation is adult fleas on your pet—95% exists as eggs, larvae, and pupae in your home environment. This is why treating just your pet without environmental control often fails.

Ticks

What they are: Small arachnids that attach to your pet's skin and feed on blood.

Why they're a problem:

• Transmit serious diseases including Lyme disease
• Can cause local skin infections
• Most active from spring through autumn in Ireland
• Found in grassy areas, woodlands, and moorland
• Can affect both pets and humans

Roundworms

What they are: Long, spaghetti-like worms that live in the intestines.

Why they're a problem:

• Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss
• Puppies and kittens can be born with roundworm infection
• Can be transmitted to humans, especially children (though rare with good hygiene)
• Heavy infestations can cause a pot-bellied appearance in young animals

Tapeworms

What they are: Flat, segmented worms that live in the intestines.

Why they're a problem:

• Transmitted by fleas and from eating infected prey (rodents, rabbits)
• You may see rice-like segments around your pet's rear end or in their bedding
• Can cause weight loss and poor coat condition

Other Worms

Other intestinal parasites include hookworms, whipworms, and lungworms, each with their own health impacts.

Your Year-Round Prevention Schedule

Here's a comprehensive protection plan suitable for most cats and dogs in Ireland:

Flea and Tick Prevention

Treatment frequency: Monthly, year-round

What to do:

• Treat ALL pets in your household (cats and dogs)
• Use prescription-strength treatments recommended by your vet
• Mark the calendar for the same date each month
• Never skip winter months

Treatment options:

• Spot-on treatments: Applied to the skin between the shoulder blades
• Oral tablets: Convenient and waterproof
• Collars: Provide continuous protection for several months

We'll help you choose the most appropriate product for your pet's lifestyle, age, and health status.

Intestinal Worm Prevention

Treatment frequency depends on age and lifestyle:

Puppies and Kittens (under 6 months):

• Every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age
• Then monthly until 6 months of age
• This intensive schedule protects during the most vulnerable period

Adult Dogs and Cats (over 6 months):

• Minimum: Every 3 months (4 times per year)
• Higher risk pets: Monthly treatment
  • Hunters (cats that catch rodents or birds)
  • Dogs that scavenge
  • Pets in contact with young children
  • Pets with access to raw meat

Treatment options:

• Tablets: Broad-spectrum protection
• Spot-on treatments: Some products combine flea and worm control
• Combination products: Convenient all-in-one monthly treatments

Lungworm Prevention (Dogs)

Lungworm is an increasingly common parasite spread by slugs and snails. If your dog is at risk, monthly lungworm prevention is recommended. We can assess your dog's risk level and advise accordingly.

Signs Your Pet May Have Parasites

Even with the best prevention plan, it's important to recognise the warning signs of parasites:

Signs of Fleas

• Scratching, biting, or over-grooming
• Small dark specks in the fur (flea dirt—actually flea feces)
• Hair loss, particularly at the base of the tail
• Red, irritated skin
• Seeing actual fleas (small, dark, fast-moving insects)
• Restlessness or agitation

Signs of Ticks

• Small, grey or brown lumps attached to the skin (often around the head, neck, ears, or feet)
• Localized swelling or redness after tick removal
• Lethargy or lameness (may indicate tick-borne disease)

Signs of Worms

• Visible worms in feces or vomit
• Rice-like segments around the rear end or in bedding (tapeworms)
• Weight loss despite good appetite
• Pot-bellied appearance (especially in puppies and kittens)
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Dull coat
• Scooting or dragging the bottom along the ground
• Visible worms in feces (roundworms look like spaghetti)

If you notice any of these signs, contact us for advice. We may recommend a fecal test to identify the specific parasite and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Creating a Practical Prevention Schedule

Here's how to implement your year-round prevention plan:

Set Up Reminders

• Use your phone calendar with monthly alerts
• Set the reminder for the same date each month (e.g., 1st of every month)
• Include all pets if you have multiple animals

Stock Up

• Buy several months' supply at once to avoid running out
• Store treatments safely out of reach of children and pets
• Check expiry dates

Track Treatments

• Keep a simple log of when each pet was treated
• Note the product name and date
• This helps if you need to consult us about any issues

Sample Annual Schedule

Month	Flea/Tick Treatment	Worm Treatment
January	✓	✓
February	✓
March	✓
April	✓	✓
May	✓
June	✓
July	✓	✓
August	✓
September	✓
October	✓	✓
November	✓
December	✓

*This shows the minimum schedule for an average adult pet. Your vet may recommend more frequent worming based on your pet's lifestyle.

Environmental Control for Fleas

Treating your pet is only part of flea control. You must also treat your home:

Regular Household Cleaning

• Vacuum thoroughly at least twice weekly, focusing on pet bedding areas, carpets, and soft furnishings
• Dispose of vacuum bags immediately (flea eggs and larvae can continue developing inside)
• Wash pet bedding at 60°C weekly
• Wash your own bedding weekly if pets sleep on beds

Household Flea Treatments

If you have an active infestation, environmental sprays can help break the cycle. These products kill developing fleas in the environment. We can recommend suitable products.

Frequently Asked Questions

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