FLEAS AND TICKS

Fleas

A common myth regarding fleas is that they are only a problem in the summer months. In fact, it takes a sustained temperature of below 10^oC over more than a week to kill flea eggs, so with central heating in most homes, fleas thrive all year round.

The same species of flea can be found on both dogs and cats, but most surprisingly, only 5% of the flea population is actually on the pet at any one time. The other 95% is found in bedding and carpets of the home in the developmental stages of the flea (eggs, larvae and pupae).

Detection of fleas on your dog can be difficult as they are only easy to find in a heavy infestation. The best indicator of fleas is the presence of flea dirt in your dog’s coat. This is faeces produced by the flea which contains digested blood, and appear as tiny black flecks when you part the hair. You can easily confirm that it is flea dirt by brushing some onto a wet piece of white paper or tissue and if it is flea dirt, a red ring will appear around the black speck.

Prevention or treatment of fleas is very easy with monthly spot on applications available from your vet, and with the main part of the life cycle occurring in the carpets and furnishings of your home, prevention is better than cure! There are many products currently available to treat fleas and some also treat for worms or ticks. For the most suitable treatment for your pet, contact your local veterinary practice for advice.

If you are using flea control continuously as a preventative measure there should be no need to use environmental treatments in your house as any fleas that jump onto your pet will be killed before they progress to the next stage in their life cycle that occurs in the furnishings of your home. If, however, you have seen evidence of fleas on your pets or you are using spot on treatments after a break in applications then it is important that you get some environmental spray from your veterinary surgeon to use on the carpets and furnishings of your house as without treating all sources the problem will persist.  

Ticks

These are commonly seen on pets that walk in areas where sheep are kept, or where there are long grasses or moorland. They can attach anywhere on the dog, but are most commonly found around the ears and face. Initially they appear small, pale and wart like, but increase in size and turn a grey colour as they feed on the blood.

Ticks in the UK can carry Lyme disease so if your dog regularly walks in areas where ticks are common, it is best to apply a preventative tick treatment which is available as a spot on application from your vet.

Removal of ticks can be quite difficult as they can leave their mouth parts behind in the dog’s skin if pulled directly out. If you find a tick on your dog, it is best to seek veterinary attention to ensure that it is removed correctly.

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