Summer…warm weather, long, lazy walks with your dog, the cat stretched out in the sunshine. Aaaahhh..sounds lovely.
Except the warmer weather also brings with it some nasties in the form of bugs and beasties.
In the case of cats and dogs, fleas, ticks and worms are the most common parasites affecting our pets, which as well as being unpleasant and uncomfortable can cause some serious problems.
That’s why it is important for the long-term health and wellbeing of your pet to routinely use proven, preventative treatments. Remember – prevention is always better than cure.
Obviously your vet is ideally placed to offer help and advice on flea and tick prevention, but did you know that here at Megapets and Bettertack we also have a RAMA?
What’s a RAMA we hear you ask.
A Registered Animal Medicines Advisor is the name given by the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) to Suitably Qualified Persons by the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.
What it means is that they are entitled to prescribe and/or supply certain veterinary medicines such as flea and tick treatments and worming treatments.
At Megapets and Bettertack, our RAMA is Simon Slinger, who has undergone extensive training and continues to do so to ensure he is up to date with all the latest science and products to protect your pets.
So what do you need to know about the parasites that can pester your pets?
Here’s our guide:
FLEAS:
Fleas are the primary cause of skin problems in dogs and cats. Some pets suffer from an allergic reaction to the flea saliva and need only a couple of bites to trigger a severe skin reaction. Fleas also transmit the common flea tapeworm and can cause anaemia in severe cases. Pet fleas will also bite people although they cannot live on humans.
SIGNS OF FLEA INFESTATION:
- Frequent scratching or intense irritation
- Tiny black specs of ‘flea’ dirt in the pet’s fur or left on pet bedding
- Small spots or scabs on the skin
- Areas of skin irritation or hair loss
HOW FLEAS SPREAD:
To understand how to control fleas on our pets we need to understand the flea lifecycle.
- Only the adult fleas are present on our pets. The ones we see make up less than 5% of the total flea infestation.
- Each adult female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs. These drop off your pet into carpets, upholstery and bedding in your home and can stay dormant for up to a year.
- The eggs hatch into larvae and then pupate. The pupa stage (or cocoon) can remain dormant for more than a year.
- Pupae are stimulated into hatching by the movement and warmth of passing pets or people.
- The adult fleas emerge and are ready for their first blood meal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH FLEAS:
Treat your pet
- Use a product specifically designed for your species of pet and suitable for its size and weight. Products designed for dogs containing Permethrin can be extremely toxic for cats.
- We recommend a ‘prescription only’ product. This is a ‘spot on’ treatment which is easily applied directly to the skin on the back of your pet’s neck and is more effective than over the counter powders or shampoos.
- It kills existing fleas within 24 hours and gives protection for 4 weeks.
- It is not absorbed into your pet’s blood stream and does not contain organophosphates.
Treat your home to kill eggs and larvae
- Vacuum all areas where your pet sleeps then empty the vacuum cleaner bag. Wash all pet bedding on a hot wash.
- Spray your home with a recommended household insecticide. This will kill existing eggs and prevent re-infestation for 6-12 months.
Monthly treatment of all pets in the household will prevent re-infestation of the environment so that further spraying of the house may be unnecessary.
TICKS:
Ticks are often found in rural vegetation especially where other animals graze. They attach themselves to our pets as they brush past. At first they are very tiny and often pale in colour but they bury their mouth parts in the skin and expand into a round pea shaped lump as they feed on blood.
Dogs are at most risk from ticks but they can attach themselves to other pets and even humans. In young animals ticks can cause anaemia but in adult pets (and humans) the main risk is Lyme Disease.
PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS:
We recommend either:
- a spot-on treatment which will prevent ticks biting and can be applied monthly.
- a collar which provides ongoing protection for several months.
TICK REMOVAL:
Ticks should not be pulled off your dog as their strong jaws will remain lodged in the skin and may cause infection. Gripping the tick close to the mouth parts with tweezers or a Tick Hook and twisting it out will release it safely.
WORMS:
All cats and dogs will get worms at some stage in their lives. In puppies and kittens an infestation of these parasites can be a serious health concern and may even be life threatening. Adult pets may carry worms with few symptoms beyond a dull coat, possible weight loss and lethargy.
There are several different species of worm. The two most common in the UK are:
Roundworms (Toxocara)
These white worms look like pieces of string. 40% of puppies have them living in their intestine and 25% of dogs carry the eggs in their fur.
Roundworms are a particular public health concern as they may be transmitted to humans and can cause health problems for children and people with poor immune systems. This can happen by swallowing the microscopic eggs found in untreated pet’s fur and in the grass from pet faeces. Good personal hygiene is essential. Cats often become infected with Roundworm after catching mice and voles carrying worm larvae.
Tapeworms
These attach themselves to the small intestine and can grow up to 5 metres long. Pale egg segments, which look like a grain of rice, can sometimes be seen in the pet’s faeces or the fur around the tail. Often pets become infected whilst grooming by swallowing fleas that are carrying tapeworm larvae. These larvae soon turn into adult worms.
ROUNDWORM AND TAPEWORM CONTROL:
Puppies and kittens first come into contact with worms from their mothers and so pets should be treated from an early age.
The worming tablets we recommend for dogs are safe, palatable and may be concealed in food. They are effective with a single dose and proven to control the type of intestinal worms normally found in UK pets. Spot- on wormers are also available for cats. A combination flea, worm and parasite treatment is available for both dogs and cats.
It is important to note that worm treatments will rid your pet of any worms present in the intestine at the time of treatment but will not prevent re-infection.
For more advice on prevention and treatment of fleas, ticks and worms, call in to Megapets and ask to speak to our Registered Animal Medicines Adviser, Simon.