Keeping your pets free from fleas and ticks during summer can be challenging. Heed this advice to prevent pesky parasites from irritating your pets ...

Ticks – external parasites which attach to the skin and suck blood from your pet – can spread diseases to pets and humans.
 
Ticks are found all over the body but can be concentrated around the dog’s neck; back; on the ears; below the tail; and between the toes – as well as around the neck or face in cats.
 
Fleas are small dark fast-moving brown insects. To check if your pet has fleas part its hair and look for:

• Small bits of brown ‘dust’ attached to the fur. The fleas excrete digested blood. See if the dust dissolves into a red liquid upon contact with a wet paper towel.
• Skin irritation - flea bites may leave red irritated skin and even bald patches in bad cases.
• Use a flea comb to look for fleas or flea dust or even larvae on your pet's bedding.

Removing ticks

If you find a tick on yourself or your pet:

• Use your fingers to firmly grasp the tick as close to its mouth as possible and pull firmly until it lets go of the skin.
• Swab the bite with antiseptic and destroy and dispose of the tick.
• Ticks can cause a lot of irritation making pets shake their heads and scratch at their ears which can lead to bleeding inside the ear. If this happens the animal should receive veterinary treatment.

Control measures:

• Examine and dip your dog weekly or use products regularly such as Frontline Advantix Preventic collars etc. Ask your vet or the SPCA which product is best suited to your pet.
• Keep your pet’s bedding clean. Regularly wash out the kennel or basket using dip.
• Minimise the areas where ticks reproduce by keeping your garden neat and reducing sandy areas
• When walking your dogs try to avoid areas with tall grass where ticks are more prevalent.
• Never try to burn off a tick or smother it with petroleum jelly or nail polish
• NEVER use bleach (Jeyes Fluid) or poisons to dip an animal. These are dangerous and potentially fatal.  

Getting rid of fleas

To get rid of fleas pets and their environment must be treated.
 

• Use a suitable spot-on or spray (Frontline or Advantix) on a 1 – 3 monthly basis (available from the SPCA vets and vet shops). Alternatively bath or dip dogs weekly. Flea collars can also help control flea infestations.
• At home vacuum/mop all floors and carpets to remove eggs larvae and pupae and thoroughly wash your pet’s bedding.
• Place a flea collar in your vacuum cleaner. Employ a commercial exterminator or use foggers and sprays containing insecticides and insect growth regulators. (Ensure pets are outdoors.)
• Repeat cleaning/treatment monthly until fleas are controlled then repeat every four to six months.
• You can also spray paving or sandy areas where pets regularly walk or sleep with Diazinon/ Chlorpirifon/Fendona. These are available from your nursery or supermarket – but please take special care when handling these products. Repeat every 3-4 weeks.

 
For more information contact the CoGH SPCA on 021 700 4140 or your vet.