Pets with other allergies eg atopy, will have worsening of symptoms if fleas are present too. Very young animals can be overwhelmed by fleas, and become anaemic.

Fleas also carry the tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum, so regular worming is a must.

How do I know if my pet has fleas?
The best method for detecting fleas is to take a piece of white paper, wet it under the tap, and comb your pet over this. Debris from the coat will fall onto the paper, and flea dirts will dissolve in the water to leave a red / brown stain, as they contain blood pigment.

Adult fleas may be found, but as they represent only 1% of the flea population at any one time, and live for a relatively short time, it is not very useful to look for them. If you do see them, they will be a dark reddish brown colour, shiny and very quick to run or jump away!

How do Fleas reproduce?
The life cycle of the flea is as follows:

All stages except the adult feeding stage live in the environment (ie bedding, carpets, chairs, car, etc) and are very difficult to detect. They may survive for extended periods of time without feeding. Most fleas on dogs and cats are cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), but this does not mean they have been caught from a cat - they are just as happy on dogs.

So - the main population of fleas is not on the pet at all - and our control methods reflect this. Just killing the adult stage on the pet will not give good control, particularly if the environmental load is high.

How do I control fleas in the environment?
Over 95% of the flea population are in the carpets, bedding, car etc. So treating the pet may not solve the problem.

1. Thorough vacuuming picks up eggs and flea dirts, but not larvae, pupae or adult fleas. Concentrate on the areas at the edges of fitted carpets, under radiators, etc, and on the pet's bedding, where the populations will be highest.

2. After vacuuming, spray the entire area with Vetkem Acclaim® Spray. This contains an insecticide to kill adult fleas, and a synthetic insect hormone - Methoprene - to prevent the development of larvae into adults. The spray's effect lasts 12 months and 1 can treats 140 sq m. Read all the directions carefully and do not spray in rooms with naked flames, fish tanks or caged birds. Spray the whole house, not just the areas frequented by your pet (adult fleas can jump 34cm and larvae can crawl 10 feet - stairs are no obstacle!), and don't forget the car.

3. Use Program®. This drug is available as tablets for dogs, and injection or oral liquid for cats. Program® is given once a month if being given by mouth, or every 6 months if being given by injection. It contains an insect development inhibitor, Lufeneron, which prevents adult fleas from producing viable eggs. It is extremely safe, can be used in weaned dogs and cats of any age, even if they are pregnant. It can be combined with conventional treatments. Using Program® should reduce our use of more harmful insecticides. It is a prescription drug and so available only from veterinary surgeons.

How do I control fleas on my pet?
Control on your pet is aimed at the adult flea, which is the reproducing stage. (Unless you use Program® monthly, regular treatment of all dogs and cats in the household is vital.) There are many different products on the market - we recommend only the most effective and easy to use treatments, and avoid OP insecticides where possible - don't waste your money on less effective remedies.

The best products are described here and are mostly modern treatments only available from veterinary surgeries because of prescription medicine regulations. Treat all dogs and cats in the household or your treatments will not work.

Do not use more than one of these products at a time, and follow the instructions carefully. Always ask our advice before treating pregnant or nursing animals or the very young. Products in italics are prescription only, and restricted to patients registered under our care.

1. Frontline® Spray is an excellent and safe product which lasts for 3 months in dogs and 2 months in cats. It can be used in pups and kittens over 2 days old, and also protects against ticks for 4 weeks.

2. Spot-on preparations are low volume liquid insecticides which are applied directly to the skin. Advantage Spot-On ® lasts for one month, and can be used on puppies and kittens from 8 weeks old. Like Frontline it is extremely safe. Frontline Spot-On ® lasts 2 months on dogs, and 5 weeks on cats, and can be used on kittens from 12 weeks old and pups from 10 weeks. It is effective against ticks as well as fleas. Care must be taken in handling, both during and for the day after treatment. If you find spraying difficult, or you cannot remember to do it frequently, spot-ons may be the answer, and they are rapidly becoming the most popular treatment.

1. Flea Collars - there are many collars on the market, with varying efficacy. They are not as effective as the sprays and spot-ons above, and sometimes cause a local reaction round the neck. Use them only if you cannot get on with the other treatments. Preventef Flea Collars last 4 months; VetKem Breakaway Collars have a safety break section for cats and last 5 months.

2. Shampoos are not recommended as they have little residual activity, so have almost no impact on the flea population in the house. Take care not to use a flea shampoo in combination with other treatments as toxicity may occur.

If your pet has sore skin or hair loss, seek the vet's advice about treatment first, as some problems may require additional therapy.

Finally, fleas frequently transmit the tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum to dogs and cats. Treat for tapeworm with DRONTAL CAT or DRONTAL PLUS if your pet has fleas.

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