Fleas, ticks and all other parasites living on the outside of your pet are classed as ectoparasites. They feed on your cat’s blood, their dead skin and other fluids. Whilst some parasites can live on your pet and not cause any problems, others can cause damage and spread disease if allowed to get established. Because of this potential problem, regular treatment and monitoring is needed. If you’re unsure of what to use or look for, come in and see us.
The first time you may be aware of a flea problem could be with your cat itching. In some instances, they can itch so much they pull hair out and cause themselves notable damage. Whilst there are many reasons a cat may be itching, fleas are the most common cause and because of this, regular treatment is recommended to stop us arriving at this situation.
Fleas are often the primary focus for our ectoparasite control because they have a very short lifecycle. In optimal conditions for a flea, growing from egg to laying an egg, can be as short as 3 weeks. Traditionally we used to see a reduction in flea populations through winter as a result of the cooling temperatures slowing their growth down. Unfortunately, with better insulation keeping our homes warmer and our cat’s tendency for wanting to stay in the warmth, the situation also benefits the flea lifecycle. As a result, year-round protection is key to prevent problems associated with fleas.
Despite fleas being our top concern, other ectoparasites are also needed to be monitored such as lice, mites and ticks. Fortunately, many treatments for the prevention of fleas also serve as prevention for lice, mites and ticks.
A common condition in cats is flea allergic dermatitis (FAD). In cats who have FAD they can have a few different presenting skin concerns. Many have spots and scabs all over their skin, known as miliary dermatitis, whilst some may have single thick plaques forming ulcerative lesions on their bodies. In all cases the condition is distressing and can be triggered by even a single bite of a flea. Because of the highly sensitive nature of the allergy these cats may need more than just monthly flea treatment to reduce their exposure. If you suspect your cat may have FAD, book in with our nurses or vets to discuss what can be done.
There are many treatment options for ectoparasites, some available from vets only, some from many stores. Each have their benefits and problems but to know which is best suited to your cat, it is usually best to come in and talk to us.
For a flea inspection and treatment application with our qualified nurses it can be as quick as 15 minutes. If however other concerns are raised we may need to discuss other treatment options.
In simple cases you can manage treatment at home after the annual check. If desired, you may come monthly to have us support your application or administration of the flea treatment.
In severe cases where other treatment interventions are needed, we may need to see you more whilst we manage other elements of the damage ectoparasites can cause.
Depending on the treatment adopted, and severity of infestation, parasite treatment can be expensive. Subscribers to our Wellness Subscriptions get 50% off our list price!
You can get an appointment at our practice by calling us or visiting our clinic.
James Horner Vets
Unit 4 Morrisons Supermarket
Coventry Road
Sheldon
B26 3PD
Monday to Friday: 09:00 - 19:00
Saturday: 08:30 - 12:30
Sunday: Closed
Emergency Out of Hours
0121 712 7070
