Australia is home to a wide range of parasites capable of causing serious illness and even death in dogs. Regular parasite prevention is not simply a recommendation — it is an essential part of responsible dog ownership.

The main parasites dogs require protection from include:

• Fleas

• Ticks (including paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks and other hard ticks)

• Ear mites and some skin mites

• Intestinal worms, including roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms

• Heartworm

Modern parasite prevention products provide excellent protection when used correctly. However, it is important to remember that these medications are still drugs and should always be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Like any medication, parasite preventatives can occasionally cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. Every owner must decide for themselves what risk they are most comfortable with: the small possibility of an adverse reaction or the very real danger posed by parasites.

For our family, that decision was made many years ago when we lost one of our own dogs to a paralysis tick. It is an experience we would never wish on another family.

If you use chewable tablets or oral medications such as NexGard, Simparica or Bravecto, make sure your dog consumes the entire dose. It is also important to monitor your dog after administration. Vomiting shortly after receiving a preventative may reduce its effectiveness - in fact, the dog we lost to a paralysis tick had been given his NexGard. Unfortunately, he vomited approximately an hour later. We found no visible tablet fragments and assumed everything was fine. It wasn’t. Whether the medication was only partially absorbed or not absorbed adequately, we will never know. What we do know is that he later died from a paralysis tick.

For this reason, we recommend administering parasite prevention products on a weekday morning whenever possible. If your dog experiences an adverse reaction, you will have access to your regular veterinarian rather than needing emergency treatment after hours.

Tick Prevention Does Not Replace Daily Tick Checks

Many owners mistakenly believe that products such as Bravecto, NexGard or Simparica create an invisible barrier that prevents ticks from attaching to their dog. They do not.

These products work by killing the tick after it bites and begins feeding. This means that even a fully protected dog can still be bitten by a tick.

For larger dogs this may not always result in illness. For a small breed such as a Toy Poodle, however, even the amount of toxin injected before the tick dies may be enough to cause serious disease.

Daily tick checks remain absolutely essential.

We strongly recommend checking your dog every day, especially after walks in bushland, long grass, leaf litter or scrub. A dedicated tick removal tool is a useful item to keep in your canine first aid kit.

If you find a tick on your dog:

1. Remove it carefully.

2. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Closely monitor your dog for any signs of illness.

Early signs of tick paralysis may include:

• Weakness in the hind limbs

• Changes in bark or voice

• Difficulty swallowing

• Excessive salivation

• Vomiting

• Breathing difficulties

Any of these signs should be treated as a veterinary emergency.

Ticks Are More Than Just Paralysis

Ticks deserve special mention because they are among the most dangerous parasites encountered by Australian dogs.

Australia is home to several species of ticks, including the Paralysis Tick (Ixodes holocyclus), the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and other hard ticks capable of transmitting serious diseases.

Tick bites can cause far more than temporary irritation. Paralysis ticks produce a potent neurotoxin that can lead to progressive paralysis, respiratory failure and death if left untreated.

Other tick species may transmit infectious diseases including ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and other potentially life-threatening conditions.

Treatment is often expensive, stressful and not always successful.

Prevention remains by far the safest and most effective option.

Prevention Is Better Than Treatment

Australia has experienced periodic shortages of tick antiserum, making prevention more important than ever.

Regular parasite prevention, daily tick checks, keeping grass short around the home and thoroughly inspecting dogs after spending time in bushland or long grass should be considered essential, not optional.

No parasite prevention product can provide a 100% guarantee.

The best protection comes from combining regular preventative treatments with daily inspections and prompt veterinary attention whenever concerns arise. Your dog’s life may depend on it.

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Fleas: More Than Just an Itch

Most people know that fleas make dogs itchy.

Far fewer realise that fleas can also spread tapeworms.

The common Cucumber Seed Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) uses fleas as part of its life cycle. Dogs become infected when they accidentally swallow an infected flea while grooming themselves. Once inside the intestine, the tapeworm develops and begins producing segments that often look like grains of rice around the dog’s rear end, bedding or stools.

Poodle owners are famously close to their dogs. Many of us share couches, pillows and even our beds with them. Unfortunately, fleas do not respect personal boundaries. An infected flea accidentally swallowed by either a dog or a human can transmit tapeworms. Effective flea control protects not only your dog, but your entire family.

But tapeworms are not the only problem.

Fleas are one of the most common causes of skin disease in dogs. Repeated flea bites can trigger Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD), a condition where even a single flea bite may cause intense itching, inflammation, hair loss and secondary bacterial skin infections. Some dogs become so sensitive that owners never actually see a flea, yet the dog suffers from severe skin disease.

In severe infestations, fleas can cause significant blood loss. This is especially dangerous for puppies and very small breeds such as Toy Poodles, where flea-induced anaemia can quickly become a serious medical emergency.

Understanding the Flea Life Cycle

One of the biggest challenges with flea control is understanding how fleas reproduce.

The adult fleas you see on your dog represent only a tiny fraction of the total flea population. In fact, most of the infestation exists in the environment as eggs, larvae and pupae hidden in bedding, carpets, furniture, cracks in flooring, gardens and shaded outdoor areas.

A single female flea can lay dozens of eggs every day. These eggs fall off the dog and contaminate the environment. The eggs hatch into larvae, which develop into pupae protected inside microscopic cocoons.

The pupal stage is particularly difficult to eliminate. Flea pupae are highly resistant to environmental conditions and many insecticides. They can remain dormant for weeks or even months before emerging as adult fleas when they detect vibration, warmth or carbon dioxide from a nearby host.

This means that by the time you spot a few fleas on your dog, there may already be hundreds or even thousands of developing fleas throughout your home and yard.

Why Do I Still See Fleas After Treatment?

This is one of the most common questions veterinarians hear.

Owners often assume the product has failed when they continue seeing fleas after starting an effective flea preventative.

In reality, many of these fleas were already present in the environment before treatment began. They are simply emerging from their cocoons and jumping onto the dog.

The good news is that if an effective flea preventative is being used correctly, these newly emerged fleas should die before they can establish a new breeding population.

However, it can take several weeks, and sometimes even months, to completely eliminate a heavy infestation. Seeing fleas after treatment does not necessarily mean the product has failed.

Successful Flea Control Requires More Than Treating the Dog

Treating the dog alone is often not enough.

To break the flea life cycle, it may also be necessary to:

• Wash bedding regularly

• Vacuum carpets, rugs and furniture frequently

• Treat all dogs and cats in the household

• Maintain continuous flea prevention as recommended by your veterinarian

• Pay particular attention to shaded outdoor areas where pets spend time

In severe infestations, professional pest control treatment of the home may also be necessary. This is particularly true when fleas have become established in carpets, floorboards, furniture or multiple areas of the property. Treating the dog alone may not be enough to eliminate a large environmental flea population.

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for a serious flea infestation. Eliminating fleas often requires persistence, repeated cleaning, ongoing preventative treatment and, in some cases, professional pest control.

In Australia’s warm climate, fleas can survive and reproduce throughout the year. Waiting until you see fleas is often waiting too long.

By the time you see fleas, you already have a flea problem.

Prevention is easier, cheaper and far less stressful than dealing with an established flea infestation.

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Internal Worms and Heartworm: The Parasites You Can’t See

Unlike fleas and ticks, internal parasites are often invisible.

Many infected dogs look completely healthy, continue eating normally and show no obvious signs of illness. Unfortunately, this can create a false sense of security.

The absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean the absence of parasites.

How Do Dogs Get Worms?

Many owners assume that only neglected dogs get worms.

In reality, intestinal parasites are a normal part of the environment, and almost every dog will be exposed to them at some point during its life.

Dogs can pick up worms through:

• Contact with infected dogs

• Sniffing or licking contaminated faeces

• Eating the faeces of other dogs or wildlife

• Drinking from puddles, ponds, creeks or other stagnant water sources

• Sharing water bowls in public places

• Digging in soil or sand contaminated with parasite eggs

• Chewing sticks, leaves or other objects picked up outdoors

• Hunting or scavenging wildlife

• Flea infestations, which can transmit tapeworms

• Feeding raw meat, offal or other uncooked animal products

In other words, behaving like a normal dog carries a certain level of parasite exposure.

This is not a reason to panic. It simply explains why routine parasite prevention is recommended even for well-cared-for pets living in clean homes.

The goal is not to keep dogs inside a sterile bubble. The goal is to recognise that exposure happens and manage the risk appropriately.

Raw feeding can be part of a healthy diet, but owners should understand that raw animal products may carry parasites and other pathogens. Good sourcing, safe food handling and appropriate parasite prevention remain important.

Intestinal Worms

Several types of intestinal worms commonly affect dogs in Australia, including:

• Roundworms

• Hookworms

• Whipworms

• Tapeworms

Some of these parasites can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss, poor coat quality and abdominal discomfort. In severe cases, particularly in puppies, heavy worm burdens can cause dehydration, malnutrition, anaemia and even death.

Hookworms deserve special mention. These parasites attach to the lining of the intestine and feed on blood. In young puppies and very small dogs, severe infestations can lead to significant blood loss and life-threatening anaemia.

Even dogs that appear healthy may be carrying intestinal worms and shedding eggs into the environment.

Some Worms Can Infect People

Parasite prevention is not just about protecting dog - several canine intestinal parasites are considered zoonotic, meaning they can infect humans.

Children are particularly at risk because they spend more time playing on the ground and are less likely to wash their hands thoroughly.

Regular worm prevention helps protect both your dog and your family.

Tapeworms

Many owners are surprised to learn that tapeworm prevention and flea prevention are closely connected.

The common Cucumber Seed Tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum) uses fleas as part of its life cycle. Dogs become infected when they swallow infected fleas while grooming.

This means that treating worms while ignoring a flea infestation often results in re-infection.

Effective parasite control requires addressing both problems.

Heartworm: The Silent Killer

Heartworm is one of the most serious parasitic diseases affecting dogs.

Unlike intestinal worms, heartworms do not live in the digestive tract. Adult worms live inside the heart and major blood vessels supplying the lungs.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes.

An infected mosquito bites a dog and transfers microscopic larvae into the bloodstream. Over time these larvae mature into adult worms, which can grow up to 30 centimetres long and survive for years inside the body.

Dogs do not need to interact with other dogs to become infected. A single mosquito bite can be enough.

Why Heartworm Is So Dangerous

Heartworm disease develops slowly.

Many infected dogs show no symptoms during the early stages of infection. By the time clinical signs become obvious, significant damage may already have occurred.

Signs of heartworm disease may include:

• Reduced exercise tolerance

• Coughing

• Breathing difficulties

• Weight loss

• Fatigue

• Collapse in severe cases

As worm numbers increase, damage to the heart and lungs becomes progressively worse.

Without treatment, heartworm disease can be fatal.

Not All Worming Products Cover the Same Parasites

It is important to understand that “worming” is not one single thing.

Different products protect against different parasites. Some products cover common intestinal worms, some include tapeworm protection, some include heartworm prevention, and some products combine worm, flea and tick control in one treatment.

This is why it is so important to read the label carefully and understand exactly what you are giving your dog.

Check:

• Which parasites the product covers

• How often it needs to be given

• Whether it includes tapeworm protection

• Whether it includes heartworm prevention

• Whether it is safe for your dog’s age, weight and health status

• Whether all pets in the household need treatment at the same time

Do not assume that because your dog receives one parasite prevention product, they are automatically protected against everything. If you are unsure, ask your veterinarian to help you create a parasite prevention plan suitable for your dog and your local area.

Prevention Is Far Safer Than Treatment

The good news is that heartworm is largely preventable.

The less good news is that treatment for established heartworm disease is significantly more complicated, expensive and risky than prevention.

Treatment often requires multiple veterinary visits, strict exercise restriction and carries a risk of serious complications as adult worms die and break down within the blood vessels.

This is one disease where prevention is unquestionably easier than cure.

The Bottom Line

Dogs do not need to be neglected, dirty or poorly cared for to encounter parasites. A healthy dog that enjoys walks, socialising, digging, sniffing, chewing sticks, drinking from puddles or eating a raw diet will inevitably encounter parasite eggs and larvae throughout its life - that is simply part of being a dog.

The goal is not to eliminate every possible source of exposure. The goal is to recognise that exposure happens and use sensible preventative measures to minimise the risks.

A dog can look perfectly healthy while carrying intestinal worms or developing heartworm disease.

The fact that you cannot see worms does not mean they are not there.

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Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention: There Is No Risk-Free Choice

This is one of the most emotionally charged topics in the dog world, and I completely understand why.

The truth is that vaccines and parasite prevention can cause adverse reactions. Most are mild and short-lived, but occasionally dogs do experience serious complications. Those cases are real, and they shouldn’t be dismissed or ignored.

At the same time, we can’t ignore the diseases and parasites these products are designed to prevent. Parvovirus, distemper, heartworm, paralysis ticks and many other diseases can also cause severe illness or death.

Unfortunately, in real life we are rarely choosing between a “good” option and a “bad” one.

More often, we’re choosing between one risk and another.

Using a vaccine or parasite prevention carries some risk. Choosing not to use them also carries risk. The absence of prevention is not a risk-free decision—it is simply a different risk.

The challenge is deciding which risk is smaller for your individual dog, taking into account their health, age, lifestyle and where they live.

Not every dog faces the same risks.

A Toy Poodle living in an apartment in the middle of a busy city may have very little exposure to ticks, but a much greater chance of encountering infectious diseases simply because of the number of dogs it meets every day.

On the other hand, a dog living on a 10-acre property may have far fewer contacts with unfamiliar dogs, but could be exposed to ticks, mosquitoes, fleas and intestinal parasites every single day.

Likewise, a dog that regularly visits dog parks, attends dog shows, competes in sports or travels frequently may have a very different risk profile from one that rarely leaves home.

This is why there is no universal vaccination or parasite prevention plan that is right for every dog. Responsible decisions should always be based on the individual dog and the environment they live in.

One reason this topic has become so confusing is social media.

If a dog receives their vaccination or parasite prevention and everything goes exactly as expected, nobody makes a viral post saying, “My dog had their treatment today and nothing happened.”

There simply isn’t a story.

But when a dog has a severe reaction, owners understandably share their experience. Those posts are emotional, memorable and often receive thousands of comments and shares.

Over time, this creates the impression that severe reactions are happening everywhere, even if they remain relatively uncommon. Our brains naturally pay far more attention to dramatic events than to ordinary ones.

It’s similar to air travel. We all hear about every major plane crash because it becomes international news. We almost never think about the hundreds of thousands of flights that landed safely that same day.

That doesn’t mean the accidents didn’t happen. It simply means our perception of risk is heavily influenced by the stories we hear most often.

Whenever I read comments saying, “Everyone should vaccinate,” or “Nobody should ever use parasite prevention,” I become cautious. Absolute recommendations rarely work because every dog lives a different life.

As breeders and owners, our responsibility isn’t to pretend that medications are completely harmless, nor to pretend that diseases and parasites aren’t dangerous.

Our responsibility is to understand the risks on both sides, discuss them with our veterinarian, and make the most informed decision we can for the individual dog in front of us.

There are no completely risk-free decisions in medicine.

Only different risks, and the responsibility to choose the one we believe is the smallest.