Ticks, Leishmaniasis and Heartworm: A Year-Round Parasite Calendar for Cyprus

Long summers and mild winters are one of the great joys of life in Cyprus – unfortunately, parasites enjoy them too. In North Cyprus the main risks for cats and dogs are ticks, fleas, intestinal worms and two serious diseases: leishmaniasis, spread by sand flies, and heartworm, spread by mosquitoes. Below we introduce each one briefly and suggest a year-round checklist to go through with your vet. It isn't a treatment plan: the right protection for your pet depends on their age, health and lifestyle, and should always be decided by your vet.

Leishmaniasis: the sand fly disease

Leishmaniasis is a serious disease passed on by the bite of tiny sand flies, and it is a well-known risk for dogs all around the Mediterranean. Sand flies are active in the warm months, especially from dusk until dawn. The disease can progress slowly, with signs such as weight loss, hair loss, skin sores, overgrown nails and lethargy.

• During the warm months, avoid letting your dog spend evenings and nights outdoors.
• Ask your vet about sand-fly-repellent collars or spot-on treatments.
• Discuss vaccination options and regular screening tests as well.

Heartworm: a silent danger carried by mosquitoes

Heartworm is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito and leads to worms settling in the heart and lungs. Symptoms usually appear late: coughing, tiring quickly, reluctance to exercise. In warm climates vets often recommend year-round prevention and regular testing, as mosquitoes in Cyprus may not disappear completely in winter. If a dog hasn't been on regular prevention for a while, a test may be needed before starting – ask your vet about this too. Heartworm is less common in cats, but it is possible and harder to treat, so make sure your cat is part of the conversation too.

Ticks, fleas and intestinal worms

Ticks and fleas

Ticks are the parasites dogs meet most often on walks through scrub and long grass. They can carry diseases such as ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. After every walk, check inside and behind your dog's ears, around the neck, under the legs and between the toes. If you find a tick, remove it with a proper tick tool without leaving the mouthparts in the skin – or ask your vet to do it for you.

Fleas affect cats and dogs alike. As well as itching and skin problems, they can carry some intestinal parasites. Even a strictly indoor cat can pick up fleas brought in on shoes or by other animals.

Intestinal worms

Intestinal worms often cause no obvious signs; sometimes they show up as weight loss, diarrhoea, vomiting or a dull coat. Regular worming matters most for pets that go outdoors, for puppies and kittens, and for homes with young children.

Cats that hunt or eat raw meat are more exposed to some intestinal parasites. As certain parasites can also pass to people, cleaning the litter tray daily and washing your hands after gardening and after handling your pet are simple but effective habits.

Think about every pet in the household

If you have more than one cat or dog, it's best to protect them all on the same schedule – a single untreated pet can quickly let fleas spread through the whole house again. Flea eggs and larvae mostly live not on the animal itself but in its bedding, in carpets and in the gaps of the sofa. Washing bedding regularly on a hot wash and vacuuming often help treatments do their job.

A season-by-season checklist for your vet

Spring (March–May)

• Review your tick and flea prevention schedule.
• Talk about leishmaniasis precautions before the sand fly season starts.
• Plan heartworm testing and prevention.

Summer (June–August)

• Check that treatments are on schedule, and ask whether sea swimming and bathing affect them.
• Keep sand fly hours in mind on evening walks.

Autumn (September–November)

• Don't stop protection while it's still warm – autumn in Cyprus often feels like summer.
• Ask about the best timing for leishmaniasis screening.

Winter (December–February)

• Discuss whether year-round heartworm prevention is right for your pet.
• Keep up with worming treatments.

Write the dates down

Note which product was given and when – in a notebook, your phone calendar or your pet's vaccination record. That way you won't miss the next treatment, and you can share the details straight away with a hotel, a pet sitter or a new vet.

Parasite care at PurrNest

At our cat and dog hotel in Dikmen, near Kyrenia, we ask that every guest has had internal and external parasite treatment within about four weeks before check-in – for your pet's health and for everyone else's. Our vet checks every guest's coat and skin on arrival. Each guest stays in their own private room, and because our cat and dog wings are completely separate, cats and dogs never come into contact. Sharing your treatment dates when you book makes things easier for everyone. If anything is unclear, just send us a message and we'll help you sort it out.