FLEAS
Which Pets Are Susceptible?
Every dog and cat is likely to become infested with fleas at some time
during their life. These days, central heating and wall-to-wall carpets
in your home provide the perfect breedŽing ground for fleas all year
round
Where Do The Fleas Come
From?
Your pet can pick up adult fleas from an animal or an environment (such
as your home!) which is already infested. The adult flea lays hundreds
of eggs into your pets environment ; the eggs hatch within days but the
larval stage can lie dormant for months until a likely host comes
along.
What Problems Are Likely To Be
Seen?
Fleas ‘bite’ to feed on your pets blood. Dirt is usually the tell-tail
sign of the presence of fleas, small black flecks deep in the animal’s
coat. If these are examined on damp blotting paper a red spot appears
as the blood spreads out. Some pets may be very irritated and allergic
even to an occasional bite, while others may show little obvious signs
in quite heavy infestation. Infestation leads to spread of tapeworm
infestation and other serious infections if left untreated.
Can People Be Affected?
Yes! Bites, causing small red wheals to appear on your skin after
holding your pet are very common. Irritation may also occur around
your ankles from environmental fleas.
Preventing An Infestation.
Vacuuming can really help, with particular attention to the nooks and
cracks around pets bedding. Repellants are available but none have
proven to be particularly effective.
Drug Treatment : Program is a market leading product which prevents
infestation by stopping eggs from hatching. It is currently available
only through your own Veterinary surgeon. Program can be given as an
oral preparation (or by injection for cats only).
N.B. In contact animals must all be treated together
Curing An Existing Problem.
Household sprays used around soft furnishings help to prevent
re-infestation by limiting the population of immature fleas that exist
off your pets. Most of these now have excellent safety margins. It is
important that these not only kill the parasite but also persist for
long periods - 6 to12 months is a typical duration of action for top
products such as Acclaim, usually supplied by your vet. Drugs such as
Program, described above, can be an extra weapon in eradicating an
infestation, but will not directly kill adult fleas or immediately stop
the irritation they cause.
Capstar is available in tablet form and can be given to
dogs or cats to kill the adult fleas in their coat. Flea eggs and
larvae are not effected. However, The treatment is 100% effective
against the adult fleas and can safely be repeated after 24 hours if
necessary after that time. It can be used through pregnancy and
suckling.
Frontline (currently only
available through your vet) is the market leading insecticide for
application to pets. It works well for a full month from a single spot
on application, longer if the pump spray is used, and has an excellent
safety record. There are occasional incidences of local irritation at
the site of application.
Frontline Combo (currently
only available through your vet) is a variation on the product which
incorporates a second active ingredient to help kill environmental
stages.
Both will also control ticks for a shorter period, and both fulfill
requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme.
Stronghold (currently only
available through your own vet) is an alternative and effective spot on
application which is active against environmental stages and also
against the common round worms in dogs and cats. Stronghold also kills
ear mites, a common cause of irritation and ear infection in cats.
Advantage is an alternative product (currently only
available through your own vet).
Other “spot on” products are available through various
outlets, most of these contain pyrethroids and are generally not as
effective or persistent method of treatment.
Shampoos are generally ineffective, killing only the adult fleas
present in your pets coat at the time of treatment only, and not
controlling the immature flea stages in the environment of the pet,
which represent the biggest part of an infestation. Using a dedicated
shampoo may actually increase the irritation caused by fleas, by
removing the natural oils present in an animals skin. They are
therefore not usually recommended.
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