You might have tried treating them already and found that they are still scratching. This can be because fleas have some resistance to over-the-counter medications. Resistance means that over time a small number of fleas have survived our normal flea treatments, that small number have bred, and all their offspring are also resistant to over-the -counter flea treatments.

Survival of the fittest! Fleas are good at surviving, and we need to use the latest treatments to ensure they are treated effectively.

How do I know if my pet has fleas?

Fleas are a common parasite that bite, transmit disease, and cause your pet to itch which can lead to flea allergic dermatitis. Fleas are very tiny and only just visible; they are also very quick and live 95% of their lifecycle not actually on your pet so they are easy to miss. You are more likely to spot tiny black dots in your pet’s hair which is the flea dirt. If you collect some of this with a comb and put it on some damp paper towel it will turn red as it is made of blood that the fleas have ingested.

To make sure a flea infestation doesn’t begin or become a vicious cycle in your home, all your pets, including indoor-only cats or dogs, need to be on a year-round preventative program. Once fleas enter your home, they can quickly take hold (each adult female flea can lay anywhere from 20–50 eggs each day) and cause an infestation that can be very difficult to completely get rid of.

What’s the best way to protect my Dog?

At VetShack we can provide your dog with a prescription only treatment for fleas which is a meaty chewable tablet that’s easy to give them once a month. One tablet will provide your pet with a month’s protection from fleas and will kill the fleas before they get a chance to lay any eggs to ensure that they don’t breed inside your house. Once your dog has had the tablet it is effective at killing fleas within 4 hours. The same tablet will also protect your dog against ticks, mites, lungworm, round and hookworms.

What’s the best way to protect my Cat?

Cats are complicated creatures and signs associated with fleas can vary a lot. Some cats may show little or no clinical signs even if they have heavy flea burdens. You may notice a rash or hair loss, or your cat may rub or lick their skin or coat frequently. Signs are classically seen on the back half of the body including the tail head, thighs and abdomen. Some cats react very strongly to flea bites which may be due to an allergic reaction, known as ‘Flea Allergic Dermatitis’ (FAD). They react to protein in the flea saliva to which they are exposed when the flea feeds.

Cats tend to be fussier than dogs about tablets and so for cats at VetShack we provide a monthly prescription only spot on treatment which treats fleas, ticks, lice, mites, roundworm and hookworm. Our recommended products ensure adult fleas are killed before they can even lay eggs. As it also has activity against both larval and egg stages it may be an aid in the control of existing flea infestations. Monthly application will also protect your cat from ear mites, lice infestations, roundworms, and hookworms.