Fleas and ticks - that doesn't have to be!

Crawling parasites are certainly disgusting. Even though they are often hard to control, their occurrence is not nipped in the bud.

Fleas cause itching, are widespread among dogs and cats, can trigger skin conditions, and are easily transmitted from one animal to another. Fleas live in the environment and jump onto the animal for their blood meal.

Ticks themselves cause no harm to humans and animals other than local skin irritation. However, they can transmit dangerous pathogens such as Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), etc.

Available medications vary in duration and are not equally suited for fighting ticks and fleas. Please ask us for advice.

Unfortunately, parasites develop resistance over time. We always aim to have the most effective products in our range.

We do not recommend biological or alternative medicine products, as none with sufficient efficacy are currently on the market.

Caution: Some products are highly toxic to cats. Ask us! Further information is available at your VetTrust practice.

Fleas are visible to the naked eye. The easiest way to find them is by combing the fur with a very fine comb. The same applies to flea dirt, small black specks that release a red blood pigment when in contact with moisture, e.g. on a damp tissue. Fleas pierce the skin with their sharp proboscis and suck blood from small vessels. A flea bite leaves a red, itchy swelling. Scratching damages the top layers of the skin, especially in dogs. Fleas also play a role in the transmission of tapeworms: flea larvae eat the eggs of the cucumber tapeworm and become intermediate hosts. When dogs or cats bite the fleas—something that frequently happens during grooming—they can become infected with tapeworms.

Ticks infest not only humans but especially dogs, outdoor cats, and wildlife such as hedgehogs. They are most active in the evening. They drop from grass or bushes onto their hosts, seek a well-perfused area with thin skin, and pierce a blood vessel with their hard proboscis.