What you need to know and Why...

Ticks

Tick bites can cause a variety of problems to animals. These can range from uncomfortable skin reactions and septic abscesses, to the transmission of diseases which can be a serious health threat, and in certain cases may prove fatal.

Preventing tick attachment, and correctly removing any ticks that have attached, is key to preserving your pet’s health.

Whether you live in the countryside, suburban areas, or in the city, if your pet goes in fields and woodland, in the park, or even in your garden, ticks have the opportunity to attach.

Ticks are not just an occasional nuisance or a passing irritation for your pet. They should be given equal consideration to any other health issue.

The UK has a number of Tick species which will readily attach to our pets, and can transmit disease.

The most common are the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) and the hedgehog tick (Ixodes hexagonus). Both these species carry Borreliosis and other associated infections.

Getting out and about provides our pets, and us, with the exercise and stimulus that is essential for good mental and physical health.

Keeping them (and you) protected against ticks will allow you to continue enjoying the great outdoors!

Now for .......

Fleas (stop scratching)

Fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of their host they have adapted mouth parts that allow them pierce the skin and suck the blood of a host. Ewwwww!!!

Fleas can cause serious disease in cats and dogs, such as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) and even anaemia. Fleas can also carry tapeworm larvae, which can infect your pet if they accidentally ingest fleas while they are grooming themselves.

Did you know...

There are over 2300 different species of flea. The female adult is said to be able to produce up to 950 eggs in its lifetime which are just about visible to the human eye as small white objects.

How do I know if my dog has fleas?

You may already know that your dog has fleas because you have spotted them in the fur or they are scratching like crazy.

If you're still not sure, check at the base of your dog's tail -- they tend to hide there because it's a difficult spot for the dog to reach. They may also be visible scuttling across the dog's tummy, where the fur is thinner or on white parts of their coat.

If you still can't see any fleas, check for flea poo (sorry!).

Comb your dog with a fine-toothed comb, looking for dark specks like grains of pepper. If these are flea droppings they will contain blood products making them easy to identify -- just drop some of the grains on a wet tissue. Flea poo will dissolve, creating tiny red stains and confirming that your dog has fleas.