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Unless you actively see adequate protection, parasite problems often go hand in hand with pet ownership. Parasites tend to fall into two categories: internal parasites which live inside your pet’s body, and external parasites which live on the skin on their host. Fleas and ticks are two of the most common external parasites that affect animals living in the United States.
 

About Fleas

Fleas are tiny, wingless creatures that are dark in color. They can lurk virtually anywhere and survive without a host for a number of months. When your pet wanders nearby, fleas use their incredible jumping ability to get on board. They then migrate through her fur to the skin, preferably to a part of your animal’s body where there is a plentiful blood supply, where they attach and drink. A single flea may not cause your pet to experience the effects of blood loss. However, fleas can reproduce at a very rapid rate and this enables their numbers to swell quickly. When a large infestation of flea’s feast on your animal, anemia can develop and make her unwell. Fleas can also carry infectious diseases and other parasites, such as tapeworm, which they can then pass to your pet.
 

About Ticks

Ticks are also wingless and, since they tend to lurk in plants, bushes and long grass, they latch on to your pet when she brushes past. They are small and vary in color from grey to dark, reddish brown. However, as they drink your pet’s blood, their body swells in size. After feeding for a few days they will drop off. However, like fleas, ticks too can carry infectious diseases, some of which can make your animal very sick including Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis.

Both fleas and ticks have saliva that irritates the skin, and this can cause itching, swelling and other unpleasant symptoms. They can also bite any humans that they come into contact with. This is particularly bad news if you have a flea infestation, as these parasites are quite happy to live rent-free in your property and treat you and your animals as an all-you-eat-buffet!
 

How to protect your home from fleas and ticks

No-one wants to share their home with a parasite, however small it might be. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to protect your property from these blood-sucking organisms.

Protect your pet

The easiest way to keep fleas and ticks out of your home is to ensure your pet has adequate parasite prevention. In the majority of scenarios, these little pests hitch a ride in on your furbaby as she comes in from exploring outside. Luckily there are a variety of preventative medications available that can deter fleas and ticks from coming anywhere near your pet. These include collars, spot-on treatments, shampoos and oral medications. Our veterinarian or local veterinary pharmacist will be able to recommend which is most suited to your animal. Don’t forget to run the treatments concurrently so that there are no gaps where your pet is left vulnerable.

Examine your pet daily

Both fleas and ticks can be hard to spot unless you check your pet daily for signs of them. By catching one early it is possible to take prompt action to protect your furbaby from the effects of a bite or from contracting an infectious disease. If you find a tick, remove it carefully using tweezers or a tick twister and drown its body in alcohol. If you spot fleas or flea dirt – flea feces that look like soil – seek treatment immediately.

Protect your property

While ticks can live in your property, fleas are generally a much bigger concern due to the fact that they multiply at an unbelievable rate, with each adult female able to lay up to 40 eggs each day. Since the entire lifecycle usually takes around 22-25 days, you can expect a small army of fleas to accumulate rapidly.

A very robust cleaning regime is one of your greatest tools against flea problems. Vacuum daily, paying close attention to floorboards, skirting, under furniture and cracks in walls and window frames. These are hotspots where fleas love to hide. Wash your pet’s bedding on a high temperature weekly, and be very vigilant for flea bites, which are small, red wounds that are intensely itchy. They tend to occur most often on the ankles, feet and calves.

You can also buy products for both your home and yard that contain ingredients that repel both fleas and ticks from the area.

If you are concerned about flea and tick infestations or if you would just like further advice, our friendly team would be delighted to assist you. Please telephone our offices.