Tag Archives: fleas

Fleas And The Indoor Cat - What You Need to Know

Fleas and The Indoor Cat – What You Need to Know

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Fleas and The Indoor Cat – What You Need to Know

 

So you think your indoor cat can’t get fleas?

Your cat never goes outside, so surely it’s not at any risk of catching fleas? Sadly that’s not the case; although indoor cats are at lower risk of getting fleas (as well as other nasties like ticks and worms), they can still get them.

 

How do fleas reach your indoor cat?

Almost any living creature or inanimate object can bring a flea into your home. Other pets such as dogs are obvious culprits, but fleas can also jump onto your clothes, shoes and bags and be inadvertently carried indoors that way.

If you’re unlucky enough to get a rodent infestation, this may also cause a flea problem .

Once the fleas are inside your home, they lose no time seeking a host to live on and feed from. They might then live on your cat for a couple of weeks or even up to several months.

 

Cats and fleas.

Fleas And The Indoor Cat – What You Need to Know

How to protect your indoor cat from fleas

Unless your home is hermetically sealed, there’s no way to be completely sure fleas won’t get in. But you can protect your cat with a preventative flea treatment. Here at Young Vet’s, we offer a flea injection or a “Spot on” treatment. They both contain a spreading agent to ensure the treatment covers the whole body, combined with an insecticide to kill any fleas that try to make their home on your cat.

If you choose the ‘Spot On’ pipettes apply it to the back of the head or neck – basically, the only place where your cat can’t immediately lick it off! You will have to part the fur to make sure you’re putting the applicator directly on the skin. If you’re in the habit of bathing your cat, don’t do this for a couple of days after the treatment, but normal brushing and combing is fine.

The spot-on treatment you use will have instructions for how often to re-apply it, if you are unsure please ask our friendly team for further advice. If you follow these instructions, your cat should be protected with an anti-flea barrier at all times.

 

Fleas and your indoor cat.

 

Non-insecticide options

Some owners choose not to use flea-control products. Since your indoor cat is at lower risk of catching fleas than an outdoor cat, you may find that your cat (and home) remain flea-free without any insecticide applications. Check your cat every day for fleas – combing is a great opportunity to check the coat and the fluff that comes off it for any tell-tale specks.

Frequent vacuuming (of upholstery as well as carpets) can also disrupt the flea life-cycle and keep them at bay. But if you do get a flea infestation, don’t take it as a judgment on your housekeeping skills; fleas like a clean home just as much as a dirty one! If your indoor cat does start showing signs of a flea problem, contact our team for treatment and advice.

The great news is flea protection is automatically included in all of our Pet Healthcare Clubs. Joining our club will allow you to spread the cost of all of your pets essential veterinary treatments across affordable monthly payments on a date that suits you. Join HERE and you could save up to £127 a year on your pets healthcare.

 

This blog and images have been supplied by Zoetis

Written by Gemma Hopkins

 

 

Foliage alert.

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Foliage alert 

Some plants such as ivy, poinsettia, holly berries and mistletoe can cause stomach upsets. Lilies, including their petals and pollen are VERY toxic to cats. They may brush against pollen and lick it off their fur, which can cause kidney failure. With the festive season just around the corner, the chances of pet poisoning can become higher. Our Winter Newsletter explains some of the other toxic alerts to be aware of.

 

 

The time of year is upon us where sweet treats are a plenty.

With the cold weather setting in, it’s a good idea to start making plans to avoid a Christmas calamity. From string and tinsel to turkey bones – all of these can cause an intestinal blockage and require life saving surgery. Our Winter Newsletter has arrived and it is bursting with advice on how to keep your pets happy and healthy over the festive period.

 

Winter Walkies : As the cold weather really sets in, make sure your pet is receiving enough exercise. If you have a dog, ensure they are ready for the colder weather. Thin coated breeds and older dogs may benefit from a snug coat to help keep them warm and dry. Don’t forget to do regular paw checks too, some salt mixtures on pavements can cause sore paws. Clean and wash your pets feet regularly to stop any sores occurring.

 

 

 

Update on Lungworm in dogs.

Lungworm are swallowed as tiny larvae, which migrate into your dogs circulation of the liver and travel to the right side of the heart. It’s here they develop into adult worms and really start to cause damage. Our Winter Newsletter explains the signs to watch out for in your dog, but more importantly how you can become your dogs hero and protect them from this potentially fatal parasite.

 

 

 

 

We hope your find our Winter Newsletter full of advice to help you care for your pet over the cold winter months. If you have any queries or would like advice on your pet contact our friendly team for help.

Autumn Alert!

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Autumn Alert! 

Autumn is a fabulous time of year and with the warm weather fading, many people feel it is a better time of year for their pets, but that doesn’t mean we can take our eye off the ball when looking after them. Our newsletter will give you some top tips to keep your pet healthy going into the changing seasons.

 

Autumn joint alert! 

Older pets will often start feeling the cold in their joints; becoming sluggish and stiff. If your golden oldie is starting to slow down, don’t ignore the signs ask us about how you can put the spring back into their step.

 

Autumn Alert!

Autumn weather can cause older pets to feel the cold in their joints.

 

Poisonings

are also a concern at this time of year, so keep a close eye on your dog when you are out walking! Conkers, acorns and rotting fruit can all cause sorts of digestive upsets our Autumn news notes the other issues to be aware of at this time of year.

 

Acorns

Our Autumn newsletter has arrived.

Parasites

are sadly still a big issue! Some of these horrible beasties enjoy the cooler, damp conditions. Ask us if you need parasite protection for your pet. Our News explains the different parasites to watch out for and the diseases that they can spread.

 

We hope you enjoy reading our Autumn Newsletter and learn some useful tips to help keep your pet fit and well in the run up to winter. If you have any concerns about your pet do not hesitate to contact our team who are on call until 10pm 365 days a year.

 

Don’t forget we’re not just ‘In The Surgery’ we have an active Facebook page – give us a ‘like’ to keep up to date with other news and competitions. Our Twitter feed is buzzing with free pet advice and pet pictures and our You Tube channel is crammed with 2 minute videos to keep your pet fit and well.

 

Summer newsletter

Summer Newsletter 2017

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Things are hotting up!

To keep your dog, cat, rabbit and other furry friends safe, make sure your prepared. To help you we’ve put together some summer survival tips : Read them here.

 

Brushing up on dental care.

An accumulation of plaque bacteria on the surface of your pets teeth leads to inflammation of the gums, bad breath and an accumulation of tartar on the tooth surface. Dental hygiene can be a source of long term pain and discomfort for many pets and many suffer in silence. Our newsletter shows the signs to watch out for and what to do if you think you pet is suffering.

 

Summer itches – could it be parasites?

Many animals aren’t particularly sensitive to flea bites, so show no signs of a problem – this does not mean that your pet is not carrying a few extra passengers! If you need to arrange flea treatment for your pet, do not hesitate to contact our friendly team to do this.

 

Kennel Cough – is your dog vaccinated?

As the weather warms up, so does the risk of Kennel Cough. Click here, to learn the signs to watch out for in your dog.

 

Read our Summer Newsletter HERE.

Kitten care- training, feeding, vaccinating, fleas

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  • Feeding– try to continue the same food that the breeder was feeding at least in the first few days. You may then mix in a new kitten food if you would like to change it over the next few days. Kitten food will have all the nutrients and vitamins they require, and vitamin supplements are not needed. If your kitten develops diarrhoea, you should stop the kitten food and feed boiled chicken or fish for a couple of days. Cats do not need milk once they are eating kitten food and it can cause diarrhoea. Fresh tap water should be available at all times. Continue feeding 3x daily until 6 months old, and then 2x daily.  Dry food is better for your cats teeth as they get older and may be more convenient in warmer weather than wet food, but a mix of wet and dry may be offered.

 

  • Worming– most kittens will have worms which have been passed from their mum. They will need worming when acquired ( usually around 8-9 weeks of age), with either  tablets or more commonly a spot on treatment from the vet.

 

 

  • Vaccinations should be given to protect your kitten from airborn viruses such as cat flu, and also cat enteritis ( diarrhoea). Leukaemia vaccination is also  usually included, and is recommended for any cat that will go outdoors. Yearly vaccination boosters are required to maintain their immunity.

 

 

  • Training kittens is not as easy as for dogs- cats are just more independent ! However they should be provided with cat scratching posts, and should have regular play with toys. A piece of paper rolled up into a ball can give a lot of fun !  Avoid playing with cotton thread or wool as they are dangerous if swallowed. If they are badly behaved with biting an scratching, do not tell them off as they won’t understand and it may make them fearful. Just ignore them by leaving the room or by putting them in an area by themselves.

 

 

  • Flea treatment should be used regularly particularly for outdoor cats ( but indoor cats may also pick up fleas, possibly brought in on clothing, or by other pets). We generally recommend monthly spot on treatment with Stronghold ( which also treats the common worms -roundworm), but flea injections given every 6 months are also available. Flea collars and most flea treatments from supermarkets are ineffective, and flea treatments from the vet are far more effective in preventing flea infestations occurring.

 

 

For further information on kitten and cat care see our blogs  on

 

 

How to stop kittens and cats scratching furniture

Tips to stop your cat spraying or toileting in the house

How to train your kitten to play without biting

Choosing a kitten – top ten tips

Cat carriers- how to get your kitten or cat to enjoy going in

 

Cat at christmas

Festive pet topics

vet in ealing

Unusually for this time of year, we are still seeing a large number of flea related problems. Once your central heating is put on, any flea eggs in the house will hatch out resulting in large numbers of fleas appearing. Each individual flea can lay hundreds of eggs in the house which are resistant to virtually all cleaning methods.  We strongly recommend that you treat your pet with a spot on flea treatment from the surgery (in our experience supermarket brands tend to be of an inferior quality to our recommended products) and use a household flea spray on the carpets and floors.

Many people find their pets slow down in the colder weather.  In middle aged and older animals this may be related to underlying arthritis.  With dogs it is usually more obvious as it causes stiffness getting up or limping when walking. Cats however often hide signs of arthritis. They may be reluctant to jump onto surfaces or may not be able to jump as high as they used to.

Weight control is very important if your pets do have arthritis, so try not to give too many treats this Christmas! We have special diet foods for both dogs and cats which are generally much more effective than simply reducing their current food.

Nutritional supplements can be given to both dogs and cats for arthritis, and may be benefiicial. It is important to use high quality supplements as the effectiveness of these can vary greatly. We can advise on which is the best one to use for your pet.

Anti-inflammatory medications may also be beneficial for both dogs and cats with arthritis, either for short term or long term use. Remember NEVER give human anti-inflammatory medications to pets unless directed specifically by the vet. Some human medications are highly toxic to pets (for instance paracetamol is often  fatal if given to  cats).

Regular exercise is also important for dogs to maintain mobility in the colder months. Frequent short walks may be better than one longer walk.

Finally a reminder that Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, Stollen mince pies and chocolate can all be poisonous to dogs. Poisonous plants include holly, ivy and mistletoe.  Pointsettia and lillies are toxic to cats.

Please feel free to call us if you would like advice on any of the issues we have raised. Just click on the link to our website below for details of your surgery. We are here to help.

With festive wishes from all the team at Young Veterinary Partnership.  We look forward to continuing to care for your pet in 2015.