PetMedics Veterinary Surgeons


hospitalised animals	pre-op information	worming information	flea control	puppy diary	kitten diary

Why Protect your pet against fleas?

Fleas are not only a nuisance that irritate both us and our pets, but they can also produce disease by drinking blood, causing allergic reactions, and transmitting infectious agents like tapeworms.

When should you use flea control?

Fleas are a problem all year round, so it is sensible to treat your animal throughout the year to prevent an infestation.

How do pets get fleas?

Pets get fleas by moving through an area where an animal with fleas has been. The flea eggs fall out of the animal's coat, they can survive and develop outdoors. When your pet walks through the area a few fleas jump onto it, they then lay eggs which fall off into your home, and 3 - 8 weeks later you notice the flea infestation.

It is rare for people to notice the first few fleas

Most people assume their pet has 'just caught' the fleas from another animal. In fact the fleas they are seeing come from flea eggs laid in their home 3 - 8 weeks previously.
Fleas must be on a host animal constantly to survive; direct transfer of fleas from one animal to another is uncommon.
The adult flea can live for up to three months on an animal. It takes a flea just 24hrs from the time it gets onto an animal, to start producing 40 - 50 eggs a day!

Click image for a larger view

The whole flea life cycle can be as short as 2 weeks!

Unfortunately the fleas you see on your pet are only ever 5% of the problem, 95% of any flea infestation lurks hidden in the home.

How do we protect pets against fleas?

There are lots of products available that help us protect your pet against fleas.
There are products that kill the adult fleas that are on your pet.
There are also products that break the flea life cycle, stopping any eggs laid by fleas on your pet developing into adult fleas, as well as killing any adult fleas that may be present. These products prevent a flea infestation in your home.
There are products that can be applied to your pet as a spray, as a spot-on placed on the back of your pet's neck, as an injection for cats, or as a monthly tablet for dogs.
These products do not repel fleas.
Our vets, nurses and reception staff can help you choose the most effective product for your pet's particular requirements.

Do you have to treat all pets in a household?

Yes. If you do not treat all pets in a household then the untreated pets can pick up fleas from other untreated animals, and the whole flea life cycle can start again in your home.

Why is it better to use flea products from a vet's than from a pet shop?

We aim to provide you with the most appropriate flea control for your needs, thereby ensuring good flea control throughout the year for all your pets, as easily as possible. Additionally we can prescribe more modern products that are not available 'off the shelf'.
Unfortunately a lot of pet shop products contain pyrethrin based drugs which fleas can be resistant to, so they do not die. Most importantly some of these drugs can cause adverse side effects in some animals, and some can kill cats.

All of our staff are more than happy to advise you on the best flea control for you and your pets.

Please feel free to ask any of us any questions you may have.