Vet charity PDSA is warning that nearly 4 million dogs and cats are at risk of flea infestations this summer after shock findings show a huge increase in the number of animals left exposed to their harmful effects.

The charity’s latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report showed a decline since 2014 of 900,000 cats and dogs receiving preventive medication to protect them from the blood-sucking parasites.

Meanwhile, milder winters and widespread central heating have provided the perfect conditions for the UK flea population to increase in recent years. But they’re not just an inconvenience, in very young pets a flea infestation can even be deadly.

“A flea infestation can cause intense suffering for a pet. Their skin will become itchy and inflamed, and some pets will scratch so much that their skin becomes sore and infected. For some, such as young kittens and puppies it can be incredibly serious,” said PDSA vet Rebecca Ashman.

“High infestations of fleas can cause a condition called flea anaemia. This is where the parasites have drained so much blood that they leave the animal desperately weak. In younger and smaller pets this can quickly become life threatening.”

PDSA is highlighting the issue after two kittens from a litter in Birmingham tragically died from flea anaemia. 

Rebecca Thorne, Senior Vet at PDSA’s Aston Pet Hospital, explained that the litter was brought in with severe flea-bite anaemia last month.

She said: “Two kittens were brought into the hospital by their owner after a third had sadly passed away.

“The smaller kitten, called Rosie, had very pale gums, was collapsed and cold. The other kitten, Logan, was livelier but they were both covered in fleas.

“We gave both kittens intensive care. We fought as hard as we could but sadly we weren’t able to save Rosie. However, we were able to save Logan and thankfully he has gone on to make a full recovery.”

The kittens’ owner, Charlotte Bennett, said she had used over-the-counter products to treat her cats but they didn’t seem to be effective.

She said: “The treatment didn’t work and the kittens began to deteriorate. I’m devastated by what has happened and want to warn others about how dangerous fleas can be.”

In a separate case, PDSA vets in Bristol saved a kitten which had collapsed after developing flea anaemia. The kitten was nursed back to health while its littermates also received treatment to rid them of the parasites.

Vet Rebecca Ashman said it was important for owners to carry out a regular flea treatment regime as recommended by their vet.

She said: “It’s worrying that there’s been such an increase in the number of pets that have never received flea treatments. Even if your pets don’t go outside, flea eggs and larvae can still be brought into the home on clothing and shoes. Flea infestations can cause terrible suffering, so regular flea prevention really is an essential part of taking care of your pet.

“Thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery we’re educating more pet owners about the importance of regular treatment and will be dispensing 200,000 flea treatments to pets this year.”

PDSA’s top tips for foiling fleas:

• Treat regularly – frequent treatments are needed to keep on top of any fleas that may be trying to set up home in your pet’s fur. Check the label or ask your vet if you’re not sure how often to do this as it’s important to use treatments correctly.
• Choose the right product – ask your vet which product would be best for your pet. Some products may not be as effective as others.  If you have more than one pet, make sure the product is suitable for each pet and follow the instructions to the letter.  Never use a dog-specific flea treatment on a cat, as these can contain a higher dosage that could cause fatal poisoning.
• Treat all your pets – fleas can jump straight from one species to another, so it’s important to treat all the pets in your house regularly at the same time. 
• Treat the environment too – wash your pet’s bedding and any blankets they use at the highest temperature possible as often as you can, and vacuum areas where they frequently lie. Flea eggs and larvae can live in soft furnishings, and as some products only deal with adult fleas it’s important to break the cycle.
• Treat for other parasites – fleas can lead to other problems such as tapeworm, so a regular worming program is also important.

Did you know?

• Fleas thrive in a warm environment, which is why flea cases increase during the summer months, and in the late autumn when the central heating is first switched on.
• Fleas can jump 20cm high, 4ft long and will jump around 10,000 times when looking for a dog or cat host.
• Fleas can feed for up to three hours from one site, and can eat up to 140% of their own body weight in blood.

Underlying muscle pain can be a trigger for aggressiveness in dogs and must be considered in cases of dangerous behaviour, a canine expert has said.

Julia Robertson, the founder of the Galen Therapy Centre in Sussex which treats dogs suffering from musculoskeletal pain, has spoken out about the links between underlying conditions in canines and attacks in the light of the RSPCA’s report into the Dangerous Dogs Act.

In its paper the animal charity claims the act – introduced in the UK in 1991 – is failing both dogs and the public and is now calling on the Government to overhaul the legislation, and build a better understanding of why dogs bite.

Julia says underlying muscle pain in dogs, often suffered in silence, needs to be considered when looking at the legislation, as it could well be a trigger for out of character behaviour and aggression.

She said: “Dogs cannot communicate their pain to us clearly so if they are suffering from a chronic condition it will often present itself in different ways. A lack of tolerance, avoidance of touch or grooming and aggressive or defensive interactions with other people and dogs are all indicators your pet could be suffering from musculoskeletal pain.”

Julia, who has been working with dogs for 14 years, treats canines suffering from chronic pain and arthritis through myotherapy – a specialised ‘hands on’ manual muscle treatment. Her mission is to provide a solution for dogs that may otherwise be facing euthanasia.

She added: “Dogs could have been suffering muscle pain that could have contributed to an attack and sadly in many cases, these beloved pets are put down. Of course, underlying pain is not the cause of aggression in every case but is certainly a consideration.

“At the Galen Therapy Centre, we believe no dog should have to be put down unnecessarily if it is simply suffering from muscle pain, that may not be solved through traditional medical treatments.”

For more information about the RSPCA’s report visit www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/dogownership/bsl

The Galen Therapy Centre is based in Bolney, West Sussex and has been treating dogs since 2002. Canine myotherapy is derived from massage and is intended to treat compensatory issues from a pathology (condition), past trauma or repetitive strain.

Pictured: Julia treating a dog with myotherapy at the Galen Therapy Centre in West Sussex.

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Lintbells, maker of the popular joint supplement YUMOVE Horse Active Joint, has launched an innovative, natural patch to ease joint stiffness and support mobility in horses.

YUMOVE Horse Active Joint Patch will act locally and faster than the supplement to help restore mobility – providing a beneficial effect within around 30 minutes and acting for up to 72 hours after patch removal.

Anna Prest, Lintbells Brand Manager, explains that the patch is ideal for competition and leisure horses alike, “The patch is ideal for everyday use, for those strains and knocks but also as a quick solution to ease joint stiffness. In line with Lintbells ethos, it’s completely natural – so there are no concerns about using it around competition time – and it’s made to the very highest standards.”

The patch uses unique and carefully sourced ingredients. It delivers VitaEase™, Lintbells’ proprietary blend of the world’s highest concentration Omega-3 Green Lipped Mussel, directly to the area where it is needed. VitaEase™ Green Lipped Mussel contains four times the amount of beneficial Omega-3s compared to standard Green Lipped Mussel preparations.

It’s combined with a specific weight Hyaluronic Acid that delivers natural relief to the joint and Menthol to soothe and cool. A special enhancer enables absorption across the skin barrier to ensure the vital ingredients get to the area in contact with the patch quickly for on-the-spot relief.

Veterinary evaluation of the product has resulted in significant improvements being recorded within 24 hours of application, with sustained or improved effects after 48 hours. This makes it a great addition to the Lintbells equine range and a handy addition to any first aid or show-day kit. It’s simply applied using standard bandaging techniques.

Anna says it’s also how Lintbells treats the ingredients that makes the difference, “We take great care to ensure we use the freshest ingredients that are newly harvested, use cold vacuum extraction to preserve the delicate Omega oils and batch test constantly. I don’t know of any other supplements manufacturer that goes to the lengths that we do to ensure our supplements are absolutely top notch.”

The Omega based patch acts on the horse’s own biochemical pathways and so the patch can be used with confidence on high performance horses, without pulling out of competitions, as well as older or more vulnerable equines. YUMOVE Horse Active Joint supplement provides the same natural joint support longer term and the two products are complementary.

One happy horse owner explained how her horse benefited, “We used a patch when she first got back from the vets after he'd drained fluid out of the tendon sheath to help prevent fluid build-up. The amount of swelling and inflammation in her leg seemed to have really inhibited the healing process after her operation. After that, every time it seemed to get hot or a bit puffier we'd put a patch on for a couple of nights. The results, especially in the beginning, were astonishing. The leg would literally shrink overnight and be much cooler, if not cold.”

The patch is available now in saddlers, tack shops and Countrywide stores and trade orders can be made with the outlet’s usual wholesalers. For more information contact Lintbells on 01462 790886 or email equine@lintbells.com


For more information about Lintbells visit www.lintbells.com

More information about WildWash can be found on their website – www.wildwash.co.uk – or by calling 020 7402 9672.

More information about the E-Dressage Equine Awards, including a full list of finalists, can be found at www.autumnball.e-dressage.com.

Pets at Home and Poundland are being lined up for a new mini-retail park in Bath.

The pet supplies chain wants to move into one of three units being created in part of the city's old Herman Miller factory.

Price discounter Poundland would take another of the stores, but would keep its shop in Westgate Street.

The third retailer is not yet known, but there would also be a separate Costa Coffee cafe on the site in Lower Bristol Road.

Council officials are about to sign off general planning approval for the stores, which would be next to the Lidl supermarket, and in total create nearly 50 jobs.

Earlier this month, Pets at Home, which has more than 400 stores, put in a specific application to fit out Unit 3 at what will be known as Metro Retail Park.

The firm - whose nearest stores are at Brislington, Chippenham and Trowbridge - says it will be employing 12 people in the 9,000 sq ft unit.

Documents submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council suggest that the Bath store would incorporate an in-house veterinary practice and one of Pets at Home's Groom Room salons.

A Pets at Home spokesman said: "We already have stores in Brislington and Trowbridge offering our unique range and customer service and have been looking to open a store in Bath for some time. We hope to bring the Pets at Home experience to the city in the near future."

The renowned natural and healing WildWash Pro Range is to be launched in India next month.

Company director Jane Cooper said: “We have worked very hard with our distributor Urban Pet House to ensure the brand is introduced to the ever expanding Indian market and can’t wait for customers in India to start using our products.

“As the climate is very hot, pets really need a gentle and natural approach to grooming and we suspect our Sensitive Shampoo will be a best seller for allergy prone skin and coats.

“The beautiful natural scents in our range won over our distributor and they plan to introduce the entire WildWash Line in India.”

There will be an official WildWash website set up for the Indian market www.wildwash.in