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A vet has warned dog and cat owners to be cautious of fleas throughout the colder months as the pests will not be simply “a summer thing”.
Fleas can lay dormant for lengthy stretches of time and their bites may cause irritation to the pores and skin of pets and their owners – whereas proving a nuisance to eliminate in the dwelling.
Sightings of the pests have a tendency to rise in the hotter months as they thrive in heat, humid environments, which permit them to develop from an egg to a completely grown grownup in simply 14 days.
A vet says many owners solely see fleas as a summer season downside, however they’ll nonetheless be a difficulty when it’s colder
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
But Jamie Walker, a vet and technical providers supervisor at world veterinary prescribed drugs firm Dechra, has warned pet owners to keep vigilant even when it’s chilly.
He instructed The Wirral Times: “Many owners only see fleas as being ‘a summer thing’ and aren’t treating their pet for them this time of year.
“Flea eggs can be brought into your home on your cat or dog’s coat, and then they can remain undetected for some time. Fleas can not only make your pet very irritated, but they can also invade your house and make family members feel itchy too.”
Fleas will be very tough to detect as they disguise deep in the fibres of carpets and furnishings.
Their eggs can lay dormant and undetected for months – even up to a yr – earlier than hatching and leaping onto a number.
When lively, a small flea downside can escalate in a short time, with some flea species laying between 25 and 40 eggs per day.
The commonest indications of a flea concern are itchy bites or pores and skin irritation, significantly round the legs and ankles, often with two or three bites in shut proximity.
Fleas could possibly be resisted by repeatedly cleansing and checking pets, washing pet bedding at above 50°C, vacuuming flooring and furnishings, and putting pet beds in areas with out carpets.
A flea infestation may cause appreciable issues. In 2019 a flea outbreak compelled the evacuation of a police station in north-eastern Paris.
France’s Alliance police union mentioned the infestation made the working situations “intolerable” and that a number of officers had suffered bites.
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