Fleas and ticks - Pet Protectors

Fleas and ticks
Fleas and ticks
Fleas and ticks are parasites that can
be found on pets. They can cause
illness and discomfort, so it’s important
to know about prevention and how to
spot the signs of a possible problem.
How do I know if my
pet has parasites
Signs include:
Fur loss
Inflamed (reddened) skin
Scratching, biting or licking more than normal
If you see any
of these signs
you should
take your pet
to the vet.
Fleas
Fleas are small parasites that bite pets and humans.
Flea bites cause the skin to become
inflamed, which is itchy. Fleas can
also transmit tapeworms to cats and
dogs. This happens when the animal
swallows fleas when grooming.
Some cats and dogs
are allergic to flea
bites. These pets can
become extremely
itchy if bitten by just
one flea.
Ticks
Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that
attach themselves firmly onto a pet.
They grow in size over several days
as they suck blood, then drop off to
complete their life cycle. Ticks are
usually picked up when dogs and cats
walk through long grass.
They can cause
anaemia (shortage
of red blood cells)
and can transmit
a disease called
Lyme disease.
I’ve found a tick on my
pet, what should I do
It is best to contact your vet for advice
as there are a number of options for
removing ticks. It is important that the
tick is removed very carefully to ensure
no part of it is left in the pet. If ticks aren’t
removed properly it can cause a skin
reaction or an abscess. Your vet might
use a special device to remove the tick,
or a spray may be used which kills ticks
and causes them to drop off.
Alternatively, special tick tweezers are
available to buy. These need to be used
very carefully so speak to your vet for
advice before attempting
to remove ticks
with tweezers.
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How can parasites
be prevented
Preventive parasite
treatments include
sprays, tablets,
injections and ‘spot-on’
preparations.
‘Spot-on’ treatments
come as a liquid that is
dripped on to the skin
on the back of the
pet’s neck.
When dealing with parasites like fleas,
treatment is needed for the home as well
as your pet, because flea eggs and larvae
are found in places like carpets, rugs and
pet beds. The home is usually treated
with a spray and these areas should be
vacuumed and washed.
Treatments available ‘over the counter’
(for example, from pet shops and
supermarkets) may not be as effective as
those available from veterinary practices
– so bear this in mind if you want your
pet to be properly protected. Your vet is
the best person to advise you about which
treatment would be best for your pet.
Every year, vets see pets that
have been accidentally poisoned
by their owners using the wrong
type of parasite treatment.
Sadly, in some cases, this is fatal.
PDSA vets advise
You should examine your pets regularly for signs of fleas and ticks
and only use preventive treatments recommended by your vet.
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Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, funds and provides veterinary care to
the sick and injured pets of people in need and promotes responsible
pet ownership. The charity operates through a UK-wide network of
48 PetAid hospitals and over 350 PetAid practices (contracted private practices).
For more information on PDSA and its work and to find out how you can help
support the charity by fundraising, volunteering or making a donation:
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email [email protected]
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www.pdsa.org.uk
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PDSA
For pet owners registered at PDSA PetAid hospitals a range of
preventive treatments are sold. These include neutering, vaccinations,
microchipping, prescription diets, and flea and worm treatments.