As spring moves into summer it is the ideal time to give pets a good spring clean to make sure they are free from parasites. Fleas, ticks and worms can all make pets very ill if ignored, so make sure your clients know how to treat their pets effectively.
FLEAS Flea bites can go unnoticed by pet owners, especially on hairy animals, but they can cause severe itching, red lesions and even ulcers in pets with an extreme sensitivity to flea saliva.
The easiest way to spot if your pet has fleas is to groom them with a finetoothed comb. If adult fleas are present you will see them picked up on the comb.
You can also rub your pet’s back vigorously while they stand on a piece of white paper. Any debris that comes off the coat should be put onto damp cotton wool and left to stand for a minute. If red spots of blood are revealed you know that the debris from the coat was flea faeces.
Flea infestations can be stubborn to eradicate, due to the rate at which the insects multiply. The key is to break the lifecycle by using something that will either inhibit reproduction or disrupt the fleas’ nervous system. Once an infestation has become established, all pets in the home need to be treated, as- well as carpets and furnishings, so that re-infestation cannot occur.
It is much easier for a pet owner to prevent flea infestations than to eradicate them so preventative measures are key. There is a wide range of treatments available, including spot-ons, oral tablets, sprays, shampoos, powders and collars. There is also an electric comb that kills fleas on contact without the use of chemicals. 
