Fleas and Worming
Fleas, ticks, worms and other parasites are common in both dogs and cats, even here in London. Some cause itching or stomach upsets, others can lead to serious illness, and a few can even affect people. Parasite protection is a simple, routine part of keeping your pet healthy and your household safe.
At PetPeople Vets, we offer modern, vet-recommended parasite treatments tailored to your pet’s lifestyle, age and risk level, with monthly check-ins for growing puppies and kittens.
Why parasite control matters
Parasites aren’t just a nuisance — they can cause real harm. Lungworm can be life-threatening in dogs; fleas can trigger severe skin allergies; ticks carry diseases; and many intestinal worms can spread to people, especially children.
We use safe, effective products, avoid outdated supermarket treatments, and help you choose the right protection all year round with minimal environmental impact.
More about parasite protection
The main parasites for dogs
Lungworm
Very common in London. Dogs become infected by eating slugs/snails or licking their trails. Infections can cause coughing, bleeding problems and, if untreated, can be fatal.
Intestinal worms (roundworm & hookworm)
Found in soil and fox-contaminated areas. Infections cause poor body condition and diarrhoea in pets, and can cause serious illness in children.
Fleas
Trigger itching and discomfort, cause allergic reactions in some pets, and can quickly infest an entire home. Flea eggs can survive in carpets and soft furnishings for years. Fleas can be easily brought into the household by humans, even if your pet stays indoors.
Fleas can also carry their own parasites, such as tapeworm. If your pet accidentally eats a flea, they can catch the flea’s parasites.
Ticks
Found in London parks (including Richmond and Bushy Park) and woodlands. Ticks can spread diseases such as Lyme disease and Babesia.
Tapeworm
Caught from fleas or raw meat. Tapeworm can cause generalised failure to thrive, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Recommended approach:
Each pet is unique and we tailor our approach to the individual. However, to keep them safe, we will often recommend:
Monthly preventative treatments against fleas, ticks, roundworms, and lungworms
3-6 monthly treatments against tapeworms, depending on your pet’s risk profile
Monthly weigh-and-worm visits for puppies (free with our PetPeople Health Plan)
The main parasites for cats
Intestinal worms
Common in kittens, and in outdoor cats that hunt.
Fleas
Fleas can be easily brought into the household by humans, even if your cat stays indoors.
Flea bites cause intense itching, and in some cats can trigger a widespread allergic skin reaction. Heavy flea infestations can be very serious, especially in kittens or elderly cats, due to blood loss.
Flea eggs can survive in carpets and soft furnishings for years, and a small number of fleas can quickly infest an entire home – prevention is often better than cure!
Ticks
Occasionally found on outdoor cats, especially in the summer. Tick bites are uncomfortable, and can transmit disease.
Tapeworm
Usually caught from ingesting fleas while grooming, or from hunting rodents already infected with tapeworm.
Recommended approach:
Each pet is unique and we tailor our approach to the individual. However, to keep cats safe and well, we will often recommend:
Monthly preventative treatments against fleas and ticks for all cats
3-6 monthly treatments against intestinal worms for new kittens, or cats with outdoor access
Monthly weigh-and-worm visits for kittens (free with our PetPeople Health Plan)
Why we recommend vet-prescribed treatments
Supermarket products are often outdated, ineffective or, in some cases, unsafe.
Our treatments are:
Safer and more reliable
Carefully dosed to your pet’s weight
Proven to prevent serious illnesses like lungworm
Minimised in environmental impact (we prefer tablets rather than spot-ons whenever possible)
Frequently asked questions about parasite control
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Most dogs and cats need monthly protection for fleas and roundworms.
Tapeworm treatment is usually needed every 3 months.
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Yes, especially lungworm (in dogs) and fleas (in both dogs and cats). Foxes and dense urban wildlife keep parasite levels high.
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Some intestinal worms can affect people, especially children.
Preventative treatment helps protect the whole household.
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Many over-the-counter products are ineffective and sometimes unsafe. Prescription-strength options are far more reliable and tailored to your pet’s needs.
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Yes. Some spot-on products can enter waterways and harm aquatic life, especially when applied to dogs. Tablets greatly reduce this risk.
If you’d like personalised advice or need to update your pet’s parasite protection, our team is always here to help. We can create a simple, year-round plan that fits your pet’s lifestyle and keeps everyone in your household safe.