Sunderland Animal Hospital recommends protection against fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks can carry many diseases and frustrations for both pet and owner.
One adult female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day 24-36 hours after eating a blood meal. These ectoparasites live in the environment and transmit diseases that can lead to illnesses for both you and your pet. To help detect the presence of fleas you should brush your pet, the most common finding is flea dirt. Once you have noticed your pet has fleas it is very important to wash all bedding that your cat lays on and vacuum your home regularly. Often time’s fleas can survive in the environment for up to 3 months due to their life cycle. If your cat has fleas it can take up to 3 months on veterinary prevention to kill and disrupt the infestation.
Ticks, much like the flea are carriers of numerous diseases that may cause anorexia, fever, stiffness of joints, and lethargy. Regular tick checks are important because these diseases can be lethal if action is not taken immediately.
Luckily, there are easy and effective forms of prevention. Here at Sunderland Animal Hospital we recommend topical liquid preventatives such as Catego or a seresto collar. Be sure to always purchase flea and tick preventatives through a veterinarian to avoid toxic and harmful counterfeit products.