Watch out – Leeches about

By John Morgan | Dated March 25, 2022

Most of us are pretty sick and tired of the rainy weather that has dominated for the last few weeks, but there is one species that is thriving. Leeches are out and about and are frequently being found on our pets. They can be found in the backyard or picked up on bushwalks. So what can you do if you find one of these unwelcome visitors on your pet?

Firstly, don’t panic! Leeches are black, shiny blood sucking parasites, which understandably evoke feelings of disgust or fear. However, they are relatively harmless, not known to carry any disease and easily removed. Most leeches will drop off shortly after being sprinkled with salt, vinegar or soy sauce. While leeches are attached, they inject a blood thinner so leech bites will often bleed for quite a while after the leech has been removed. While this can be a little messy, only a small amount of blood is lost so in most cases is not a cause for concern. Firmly press a dry cotton ball to the site for at least 30 seconds to help stop the bleeding. Always thoroughly check your pet over for any more leeches that may be attached. 

Occasionally, leeches can work their way into hard to reach areas (noses, ears) or a heavy leech burden can cause anaemia in smaller patients. If you are concerned this may be the case with your pet, please let us know. As always, we are here to help if you have any concerns.