YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW IF YOUR PET HAS FLEAS, RIGHT?

Wrong! In a recent survey, nearly half of all pet owners whose pets had fleas were totally unaware of the problem¹.

The fact is, fleas are a very common problem. If you have cats or dogs, the chances are they'll experience a flea infestation at some time in their life. In summer 2005, more than one in fifteen dogs and one in five cats showed signs of a flea infestation or flea-related problems.

IT'S JUST AN IRRITATING BITE, ISN'T IT?

At the very least, fleas cause irritation and skin problems in pets - you'll see this if your pet is itching, scratching or biting their coat. Newly hatched fleas will often jump onto pet owners causing discomfort for us too, but the problem doesn't end there. Fleas can carry diseases that affect people as well as pets.

Some pets develop Flea Allergy Dermatitis, an allergy to fleas where they can suffer a nasty skin reaction.
Fleas can carry tapeworm, which infect cats and dogs. Ask your vet about worming, especially if you've seen any fleas.
Fleas are involved in the transmission of Bartonella henselae², a bacteria known to cause mild flu-like symptoms in people.
Fleas can also carry Rickettsia species², a bacteria that causes fever and a skin rash in humans.

IS YOUR HOME HARBOURING A PROBLEM?

Did you know that if your pet has fleas, your home is harbouring most of the flea problem? Adult fleas on your pet are just the tip of the iceberg, in fact they are only 5% of the whole infestation. The other 95% consists of flea eggs, larvae and pupae that can be spread throughout your home by your pets and develop into new adult fleas in only a few weeks. A warm house provides the perfect breeding environment, so central heating makes fleas a problem all year round.

Flea Cycle

TAKE THE FLEA TEST.

Waiting until your pet starts scratching could mean an infestation in your home that's hard to resolve. Simply checking your pet regularly for fleas is the first step to preventing the whole flea problem.

How do you know if your pet has fleas? You might see them in your pet's coat by gently parting the fur, particularly around the base of the tail. But fleas are often difficult to find, so the best way to check is to look for 'flea dirt' - small black specks in the pet's coat, which consist of dried blood excreted by the fleas.

Comb through your pet's coat and collect any debris onto a wet piece of white paper or cotton wool.
If the specks that fall onto the wet surface dissolve to give red/brown swirls or patches, then your pet has fleas.
If you see no flea dirt and your pet is scratching or losing hair, consult your vet for help.

TAKE CONTROL.

If your pet has fleas, it's important to tackle the whole flea problem, not just the adult fleas. The best approach is to use the 'Integrated Flea Control' method recommended by experts³. You can achieve this by following three simple steps to effective control:

Protect your pet - treat them with a product containing an ingredient to kill adult fleas.
Protect your home - treat your pet or your home with a product containing a different active ingredient to prevent the development of eggs, larvae and pupae.
Ensure quicker clearance of any infestation - wash pet bedding and vacuum regularly, and make sure the house is warm to encourage pupae to hatch.
If your dog swims or is shampooed ensure you have waterproof flea control.

Talk to your vet. Ask your vet for advice on the most suitable flea control product for your pet and your home.

¹ Merial Flea Survey 2005 in conjunction with Royal Veterinary College, London, unpublished data.

² "Pathogen carriage by the cat flea in the UK" Shaw et al, Vet. Microbiol. 2004 103(3-4):183-8

³ Integrated Flea Control: Flea Control for the 21st Century, Dryden Michael and Broce Alberto B. North Am, Vet. Conference (2001).

Brought to you by
Merial Animal Health, manufacturers of FRONTLINE^® and FRONTLINE Combo^®