Although the risk of your dog catching fleas or ticks is highest during the summer months, there is a risk all year round of contact with these irritating parasites. Not only do these critters cause discomfort to your pets, but they can pass potentially serious diseases to both pets and humans.

What are fleas and ticks?

Fleas are small insects and ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals, and are commonly found on dogs and cats. 

Fleas

The most common form of flea found in the UK is the Ctenocephalides felis, or the cat flea, which can be found on both cats and dogs. They have powerful back legs which allow them to jump up to 30cm between dogs, people, and furniture, and their eggs can lay dormant on skin or in soft furnishings for months. 

Fleas only grow to 1-2mm in length so can be hard to spot amongst your dog's fur. However, whilst they may be small, they can cause a lot of irritation and even pass infection or disease onto their hosts, so it's important to remove them from your home, and your dog, quickly.

Ticks

The most common form of tick found in the UK is the Sheep Tick, which is estimated to affect 71% of UK dogs. Like fleas, these ticks not only irritate the skin but can pass infections and diseases such as Lyme disease, which affects both dogs and humans. 

How do I know if my dog has fleas or ticks?

If your pup has been infested with fleas or ticks he may be agitated, scratching and biting himself more than usual.

If your dog has fleas, you may notice flea droppings or eggs (black or white dots) on the fur and skin. When looking closer at the skin, you are most likely to spot fleas around your dog's armpits, groin and around the base of the tail. 

Ticks tend to hide between the toes, under the legs and around the head, ears and tail. You should be able to spot them by inspecting the area and even feel them by running your hand through your dog's fur.

If your pets have fleas it's almost certain your home is infected too, so you may spot fleas or eggs down behind the cushions on your dog’s bed, your chairs, sofas or around the edges of your carpets, or even notice yourself being bitten.

How are fleas and ticks spread amongst dogs?

Fleas have an impressive jump so they can easily hop between dogs in the park or kennels, and can even pass to dogs from other mammals such as birds or squirrels. Dog grooming facilities can inadvertently spread fleas, and soft furnishings and carpets in the home can harbour fleas and infest any animals and people that visit. 

Ticks cannot jump or fly but their hooked front legs can grip onto dogs that pass them by. They tend to hide in grassy areas and woodland, climbing up onto dogs' feet from below or dropping from leaves above. It's even possible for humans to bring ticks into the house on shoes and clothing, so be sure to check your clothes after hiking in an area known for ticks.

How to treat fleas and ticks

If you find fleas on your dog, it is recommended that you wash them thoroughly with a special parasite shampoo, using a flea comb to remove as many as possible as you go. These shampoos can be purchased from most pet shops, but as a general rule you get what you pay for in terms of effectiveness. You will normally need to apply the treatment several times over the course of a few weeks. 

Removing a tick from a dog

Removing ticks is more difficult as they hook into your dog’s skin. Removing them incorrectly could cause the mouthparts to break off, or blood to go back into the wound, both of which can cause serious infection. 

• Wearing rubber gloves, use a tick removal tool to carefully slot the tick's mouthparts into the head of the hook at skin level.
• Ensuring that you do not squeeze the bloated belly of the tick, carefully rotate the hook to free the tick and remove it. You can rotate either clockwise or anti-clockwise but stick to only one direction.
• Place the tick into strong alcohol to kill it.
• Wipe your dog's skin with antiseptic wipes and check for any broken off pieces of the tick in the skin. 

If you're uncomfortable removing a tick your vet will be able to remove them for you, or show you how to do it safely. You should remove ticks as soon after you spot them as possible. 

If your dog has been infected with ticks or fleas you will also need to treat your whole house and garden with parasite killer. You can get sprays to kill the eggs and larvae that may be hiding in soft furnishings and even for vegetation outside. Like the flea shampoo you usually need to repeat the treatment 3 or 4 times to make sure your home is flea-free.

How to prevent fleas and ticks

Preventative treatments for your dog

Spot-on treatments and flea collars are the most popular methods of preventing ticks and fleas. Spot on treatments involve applying a small tube of ointment to your dog's neck once a month or as directed, to repel parasites. 

Flea collars work in a similar way and last longer than the monthly treatments, however they require do your dog to wear them 24/7. This means wearing 2 collars when out and about, which can be uncomfortable for some dogs.

Protecting your home

Keeping your home very clean is also key to preventing an infestation, especially as ticks and fleas can be brought in from outside on clothes and shoes. In fact, vets estimate that for every flea you see on your pet, there are 100 more in your home! 

Wash your dog's bedding regularly and empty the vacuum after every use. You may also choose to spray your garden regularly with pesticides targeted at ticks and fleas. Fleas can lay 40 to 50 eggs a day so it's easy to see how infestations can quickly appear from nowhere.

It is impossible to avoid all the places where your dog might come into contact with ticks or fleas, so repellent treatments are the best way to keep them at bay. Your vet will be able to give you advice on the best products to use for your dog.