Fleas

When summer is approaching one of the major problems at this time of year in dogs and cats is fleas. These creatures are very small but can cause huge problems.

A lot of people get embarrassed when we find fleas on their pet. However, any pet can and will catch fleas.

The adult female flea can lay hundreds of eggs during her life span of about one year. These small shiny white particles can survive in all manner of places such as wood cracks, sandy soil and straw for a long time.

In the warmer weather, these eggs hatch into small “larvae” which feed on the cast offs from adult fleas.  The larvae hatch into “pupae” which can survive in the soil for up to one year. Eventually these “pupae” develop into adult fleas, which invade our pets!

Fleas cause an acute reaction on the skin of the dog, cat or human! The saliva of the flea, which in turn is produced when the flea sucks the blood of its host, causes this irritation.

The reaction causes an itching, which makes the pet scratch, often breaking the skin and allowing bacteria on the skin to enter and infect the tissues.

Obviously when a dog or cat scratches and tears at the affected areas hair is torn out and the coat of the pet becomes scraggy and ugly.

In badly affected animals there can be a lot of blood absorbed by the fleas and the pet can develop an anaemia (or lack of blood).

A few years ago flea treatment consisted of baths flea collars and flea powders. While these measures do help they are largely ineffective, as they do nothing to stop the eggs, which re-infest as they hatch.

The main thrust in flea control is prevention and environmental management.

If an animal has fleas it is important to first of all remove as much as possible the areas that fleas can live and breed in. Straw, old blankets, sand and dirt should be removed from the pet’s area. Bedding of clean blankets and shredded paper are preferable.

There are a number of   “spot-on” liquid products that can be put on the skin of the pet, which will kill adult fleas almost as soon as they land on the cat or dog. “Advantage”, and “Frontline” are two such products. These chemicals spread all over the animal’s skin and kills fleas as soon as they come into contact with the treated animal. Treatments last for around four to six weeks and are completely safe for young and adult animals.

However, unfortunately adults can still lay eggs. To be completely thorough therefore the eggs need to be treated. “Programme” is a product that is fed to cats and dogs in their food. When an adult flea comes into contact with a pet that has eaten this product the eggs that are laid are infertile and won’t hatch.

Consequently when that adult female dies there are no young to replace her

By combining these two remedies the pet’s environment can be flea free!

If you are considering purchasing a new pet it can save a lot of problems if flea prevention is started from word go!

Well, that’s it for now; I look forward to talking to you next time.

Cheers,

Jack.