News
Ticks and Fleas
Pet owners should be aware that due to the unusually wet summer this year, there has been a reported rise in the number of ticks and fleas.
Fleas can irritate both your pet and yourself and ticks can carry the potentially harmful illness, Lyme disease.
There are a number of precautions the Pet Health Council recommends pet owners take to try and keep their pets and themselves free of fleas and ticks.
- Be vigilant; check your pet’s coat and skin especially when it has been exercised in areas where ticks might be present. In particular park land or countryside with lots of wild animals, bracken, heather and undergrowth.
- There are a number of licensed sprays, powders, flea collars, tablets or insecticides available from your local vet, community pharmacy or pet shop, some of which will tackle both fleas and ticks. You should ensure that your pet is treated regularly. Your vet will be able to recommend which would be the best one for your pet.
- Always follow the instructions on these products carefully and never use a product for one species on another species, eg a dog product on a cat.
- Fleas may transfer onto your pet’s bedding, so clean the bedding regularly and clean the floor thoroughly. When advised, it is also a good idea to treat the bedding and soft furnishings with a household insecticide suitable for flea control, following the instructions. The best time to do this is just after treating your pet.
If pet owners are in any doubt about whether their pet may have fleas or ticks then they should contact their vet.
MRSA statement
The Pet Health Council is aware of the recently published report by the Soil Association, warning that meat sold in the United Kingdom could be infected with MRSA. The Council would like to acknowledge that no infected meat has been identified in the UK by the Government or Food Standards Agency. It should also be noted that the strain of MRSA identified is different to hospitals acquired strains. Furthermore, cooking meet properly will destroy MRSA.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 December 2007 )
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