The Importance of Tick and Flea Treatment for Dogs and Cats
As a pet owner, it’s essential to prioritize your furry friend’s health and well-being. Once crucial aspect of pet care is protecting your dogs and cats from ticks and fleas. These external parasites can cause significant discomfort, transmit diseases, and even lead to life-threatening conditions. In this blog, we’ll delve into the importance of tick and flea treatment for dogs and cats, exploring the risks associated with these parasites, the benefits of treatment, and the best methods for prevention.
The Risks Associated with Ticks and Fleas
Ticks and fleas are two of the most common external parasites affecting dogs and cats. These parasites feed on the blood of their hosts, causing discomfort, anemia, and transmitting diseases.
Ticks
Ticks are ectoparasites that attach themselves to dogs and cats, feeding on their blood. In South Africa, the most common tick species are the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), the Yellow Dog Tick (Haemaphysalis leachi), and the Bont Tick (Hyalomma marginatum). Ticks can transmit several diseases, including:
- Babesiosis: A life-threatening disease caused by the Babesia parasite, which infects red blood cells.
- Ehrlichiosis: A bacterial disease that can cause fever, lethargy, and bleeding disorders.
Fleas
Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of dogs and cats. In South Africa, the most common flea species is the Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis). Fleas can transmit diseases, including:
- Flea allergy dermatitis: A skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to flea bites.
- Tapeworms: Fleas can transmit tapeworms, which can cause digestive problems and weight loss.
In our next blog, we will go into more detail about the different diseases.
The Importance of Tick and Flea Treatment
Given the risks associated with ticks and fleas, it’s essential to prioritize tick and flea treatment for your dogs and cats. Treatment can help prevent the transmission of diseases, reduce discomfort and anemia, and prevent infestations.
Benefits of Treatment
- Prevention of diseases: Regular tick and flea treatment can prevent the transmission of diseases, reducing the risk of illness and death.
- Reduced discomfort: Treatment can alleviate the discomfort and anemia caused by tick and flea infestations.
- Prevention of infestations: Regular treatment can prevent tick and flea infestations, reducing the risk of transmission to other pets and humans.
- Reduced risk of tick-borne diseases: Treatment can reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases, which can be life-threatening.
Methods for Prevention and Treatment
There are several methods for preventing and treating tick and flea infestations. These include:
- Topical treatments: Topical treatments, such as spot-on products, can be applied directly to the skin to kill ticks and fleas.
Frontline Plus Spot On (Single), Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Boehringer
R96.00 – R171.00
For the treatment and prevention of fleas and ticks on dogs and puppies from 8 weeks of age.
Revolution Plus Cats 2.5 – 5kg (per ampule)
R181.00
Provides the broadest scope of protection in one dose, protecting cats and kittens inside and out against flea, ticks, ear mite, roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms.
Frontline Plus Spot On 0.5ml, Cats Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Boehringer
R104.00
For the treatment and prevention of fleas and ticks on cats and kittens from 8 weeks of age.
Revolution Dogs (per ampule)
R124.00 – R218.00
Revolution is a spot-on that treats adult fleas and flea eggs on the pet plus flea eggs and larvae in the home, mites, lice, roundworm, hookworm, heartworm and controls ticks.
- Collars and tags: Collars impregnated with tick and flea repellents can be used to prevent infestations.
Seresto Tick & Flea Collar Dog
R860.00 – R1,275.00
Protects your dog from ticks & fleas for 32 weeks.
Ultrum Powder 100g, Cats Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Kyron
R68.00
Ultrum Powder contains Porpoxur in a perfumed talc base, packed in a powder shaker – for the control of fleas, ticks, feather mites, red mites and lice on dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and birds, including cage birds and poultry. It is safe for use on rabbits. Ultrum Powder is cost effective and can be used regularly to keep flea infestations at bay (it is recommended to use it in conjunction with other flea and tick remedies).
- Shampoos and dips: Shampoos and dips can be used to kill ticks and fleas on dogs and cats.
Shampoo Ultrum Plus 250ml, Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Kyron
R131.00
Ultrum Plus is a luxury insecticidal, flea & tick shampoo for dogs. Contains evening primrose oil, permethrin (for extended action), esbiothrin (for instant knockdown), piperonyl butoxide, lanolin and conditioners. The shampoo leaves the coat and fur silky-clean and sweet-smelling. Use Ultrum Plus when fleas and ticks are a problem and the dog-owner wants to ensure that the animal is completely free of these parasites. Not safe for cats.
Ectodex 100ml
R198.00
Controls demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, ticks and lice.
Shampoo Ultrum Original 250ml, Cats Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Kyron
R131.00
Ultrum Original is a luxury insecticidal, flea & tick shampoo safe for use on cats, dogs, puppies and kittens. Contains natural pyrethrum, piperonyl butoxide, humectant, lanolin and conditioners. The shampoo leaves the coat and fur silky-clean and sweet-smelling. It’s perfect for the new puppy or kitten brought into the home. Can be used in multi pet households to prevent toxicity in cats.
Spray Ultrum Ultimate, Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Kyron
R193.00 – R290.00
Ultrum Ultimate treats and prevents flea and tick infestations in dogs. Ultrum Ultimate gives over 3 weeks protection against fleas, kills flea eggs and larvae over 3 months and is also effective against ticks. Contains permethrin, es-bioallethrin, piperonyl butoxide and pyriproxifen. When fleas and ticks are a problem and the dog-owner wants to ensure that the animal is completely free of these parasites.
- Oral medications: Oral medications, such as tablets and chewables, can be given to dogs to kill tick and fleas.
Nexgard Chewable, Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Boehringer
R111.00 – R180.00
Nexgard contains afoxolaner, an insecticide-acaricide for oral treatment and prevention of flea, tick and mite infestations of dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older, for one month following a single administration.
Bravecto Chewable Tablet, Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, MSD
R314.00 – R666.00
For the treatment and prevention of tick, flea and mite infestations in dogs.
Simparica Chewable Tablet (3 Pack)
R252.00 – R596.00
Simparica is a fast acting safe chewy tablet that starts killing fleas within 3 hours and ticks within 8 hours.
Nexgard Spectra Chewable, Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Boehringer
R126.00 – R307.00
Nexgard Spectra is a beef-flavoured chew available in five sizes adapted to dogs and puppies according to their weight.
- Environmental treatments: Environmental treatments, such as sprays and foggers, can be used to kill ticks and fleas in the environment.
Ultrum Powder 100g, Cats Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Kyron
R68.00
Ultrum Powder contains Porpoxur in a perfumed talc base, packed in a powder shaker – for the control of fleas, ticks, feather mites, red mites and lice on dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and birds, including cage birds and poultry. It is safe for use on rabbits. Ultrum Powder is cost effective and can be used regularly to keep flea infestations at bay (it is recommended to use it in conjunction with other flea and tick remedies).
Ectodex 100ml
R198.00
Controls demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, ticks and lice.
Spray Ultrum Ultimate, Dogs Tick/Flea, KimVet e-Shop, Kyron
R193.00 – R290.00
Ultrum Ultimate treats and prevents flea and tick infestations in dogs. Ultrum Ultimate gives over 3 weeks protection against fleas, kills flea eggs and larvae over 3 months and is also effective against ticks. Contains permethrin, es-bioallethrin, piperonyl butoxide and pyriproxifen. When fleas and ticks are a problem and the dog-owner wants to ensure that the animal is completely free of these parasites.
Visit our range of tick and flea treatments here.
Conclusion
Tick and flea treatment is essential for protecting your dogs and cats from the risks associated with these external parasites. Regular treatment can prevent the transmission of disease, reduce discomfort and anemia, and prevent infestations. By understanding the risks associated with ticks and fleas, the benefits of treatment, and the methods for prevention and treatment, you can help keep you furry friends free from these parasites.
