PARASITES AND YOUR PET

FLEAS

Recent advances in drug technology and the understanding of the flea lifecycle has turned the flea control market into a huge area. There are hundreds of products available from many sources with huge variations in efficacy and safety. Fleas are becoming resistant to certain chemicals and our pets are becoming very sensitive to fleas with many having allergic skin conditions when bitten. You can however control and prevent fleas effectively with minimal side effects to your pet by using the right products. Our expertise and advice is on hand to save you from investing in inappropriate products and to save your pet scratching time.

A brief summary of the flea lifecycle may help you understand the control mechanisms we recommend. Fleas jump onto your pet and after they have had a blood meal lay eggs which roll off your pets coat onto the carpet and bedding. These eggs hatch within the environment into larvae, then mature into adult fleas which jump onto your pets coat and the cycle continues. Under favourable conditions this cycle takes only 12 days and as a female flea can lay 2000 eggs in her lifetime it is easy to see how quickly an infestation can arise. The flea also helps the tapeworm along on its lifecycle by carrying the worm and your pet picks up the tapeworm when grooming. We advise when treating fleas that you also worm your pet at the same time. The exception to this lifecycle is the rabbit flea which is often found on the ears of hunting cats, it does not infest the house and is easier to treat. Our recommendations aim to break this cycle in the following ways:

...treat the adult fleas- by using a spray or spot-on product such as FRONTLINE.

...treat the environment- using a long lasting powder or spray in you home such as FLEABAN or ACCLAIM which kills the flea at the larval stage.

...prevent the fleas from breeding- PROGRAM acts by sterilising the flea when it bites the animal.

The method or combination you use is dependant on your individual circumstances and wishes. We are here to advise, please ask.

LICE

These can occur in dogs and cats. Unlike fleas these pale coloured slow moving insects live entirely on the host animal and don't infest the environment. They will not infest a different species -a dog louse will not infest a cat or human. The eggs can often be seen attached to the hair shaft and are commonly known as nits.

We find lice to be best treated by a quality product such as FRONTLINE.

EAR MITES

These are common in young dogs and cats acting as a source of ear problems. Many infected kittens and pups show no symptoms until a chronic ear infection has resulted often with irreversible damage. The mite lives and breeds mostly within the ear canal producing thick dark wax to protect itself It emerges onto the skin around the ear occasionally and this is when it infects in-contact animals. The mite has a three week lifecycle of hatching and maturing to egg laying adults. This 3 week cycle is important in treating the infestation as we need to use products over this period or a long acting insecticide. In-contact animals are always best treated when an infestation is found to help break the cycle of the mite.

HARVEST MITES

These tiny orange coloured mites appear towards harvest time at the end of summer. Many animals and people are allergic to their bites and they are a source of intense irritation, the allergic reaction lasting many weeks. They are picked up from grassy areas and live and feed on the surface of the skin, usually in crevices close to the contact areas with the grass. Currently the most effective treatment we recommend is to spray your pet's legs and tummy regularly with FRONTLINE spray as well as using a good flea prevention system.

TICKS

Ticks are most active in spring and autumn when they climb stalks of grass heather or bracken to wait for a passing animal to attach to. Once attached it buries its mouthparts into the skin and has a meal of blood. it engorges on its blood meal over a few days then falls off The tick is a source of skin reactions and abscesses where it attaches but also carries diseases such as Lyme disease.

If you find a tick on your pet the best action is to kill it with an insecticide such as FRONTLINE and leave it to drop off, if you pull it off take care that you remove the whole tick, mouthparts and all. Regular use of FRONTLINE will kill any ticks on contact and prevent them spreading disease.

MANGE

This is the name given to itchy skin caused by mites. There are many different mites which cause mange some of which cause skin problems in humans. Treatment in many cases is problematic and veterinary advice should be sought if you have any worries.