A rabbit can pick up parasites from the hay it sleeps in, the grass it run is placed on in you garden, or anywhere it may get to if it escapes your garden!
For the long-term health and wellbeing of your pet and your family, it is essential that you routinely use proven, preventative treatments against the most common parasites throughout your pet’s life. Remember that prevention is much easier and cost effective than cure.
Fleas and Mites
Fleas are one of the most common external parasites in pets and are the cause of many skin problems. Although you may only see the occasional flea or mite on your pet, they are continually shedding eggs in their home and can lead to a flea infestation. Flea bites to you and your family can be costly and complicated to treat. This is especially the case as fleas can pass disease onto your pet. In the case of rabbits, myxomatosis is a serious disease that fleas can spread.
Fleas are also difficult to get rid of once they've infested your pet and their living environment. In fact, an adult flea can stay in its cocoon for up to 6 months before it emerges, so eradicating these parasites can take a long time!
Although fleas are small, they can make your pet miserable. Once on your pet, fleas can bite every 5 minutes leaving your cat or dog itchy and uncomfortable. You only need to bring one flea inside your home to start an infestation. One female flea can produce enough eggs to quickly escalate the problem in your home.
You may not have realised that fleas live on a variety of animals such rabbits and hedgehogs, as well as cats and dogs. When your pet is outdoors, fleas from the eggs left behind can also jump on your pet. Once on your pet, they feed on his or her blood and start laying eggs.
Treating your pet with our vet recommended treatment plan will effectively kill fleas and disrupt their life cycle.
Worms
There are various worms that can infect your pets, and they can pose a threat to your family. Worms that target pets include roundworms, hookworms, lungworms, and tapeworms, and they are prolific across the United Kingdom. Certain worm can produce more than 100,000 eggs per day, which are then passed in the pet’s faeces and spread throughout their living environment.
Your family can accidentally ingest worm eggs that have been passed through your pet’s faeces. The eggs can then hatch in your intestinal tract, and the worms can travel to various tissues in the body, including the eyes and brain, potentially causing serious infections.
Worms are a year-round threat and the only way to keep your pet and family safe is through proactive actions to get the best products. Lungworm, which is passed on by slugs and snails, is potentially fatal and many over the counter products do not tackle this worrying parasite.
Please be aware that many products available elsewhere other than sold at Crofts Veterinary Practice may be ineffective at treating all the species of worms and fleas your pet could get. There are many ranges of worming treatments available including tablets, liquids, granules and spot-ons.
Parasites Are Local Hazards
Your rabbit may love running around in the grass, but unfortunately, grassy areas are where parasites hide. But don't worry! At Crofts Vets, we know you could never deprive your rabbit of exercise. This is why we always recommend preventative measures to keep your rabbit safe from parasites.
For flea and worm treatments as well as other parasite control measures we recommend our Pet Health Plan. This plan covers this service as well as other discounts in a monthly fee - so you can rest assured that your rabbit is safe, well, and happy! Get in touch today for further information or to book an appointment with Crofts Vets today!
