# Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets): Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — Quick answer. Fleas cause itching, skin allergy, and can spread tapeworms; ticks attach and feed on blood and may transmit serious diseases depending on where you live. Modern vet-prescribed preventatives work far better than old-fashioned flea collars alone. If you find a tick, remove it promptly with a tick tool — never burn it or use petroleum jelly.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets): Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — Signs your pet has fleas. - Scratching, biting, or over-grooming - Small dark specks in the coat ("flea dirt" — digested blood) - Red, irritated skin or hair loss (especially base of tail and belly) - Fleas visible when you part the fur (fast-moving dark insects) One flea can become hundreds within weeks because eggs fall into bedding and carpets. Treat the pet, all other pets in the home, and the environment together.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets): Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — Signs of ticks. Ticks look like small grey-brown bumps that grow as they feed. Check after walks in long grass or woodland — common sites include ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between toes.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets): Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — Prevention (the best approach). Your vet can recommend spot-on treatments, tablets, or collars licensed for your pet's species and weight. Many products cover fleas and ticks together. Use cat-only products on cats — some dog flea treatments contain permethrin, which is toxic to cats. Year-round prevention is advised in many regions because central heating allows fleas to survive indoors through winter.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets): Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — Removing a tick safely. 1. Use a tick removal tool or fine-point tweezers 2. Grasp the tick close to the skin 3. Pull slowly upward with steady pressure — do not twist or jerk 4. Disinfect the bite area and wash your hands 5. Save the tick in a sealed bag if your vet wants identification (region-dependent) Do not use matches, oils, or nail polish — these irritate the skin and may cause the tick to regurgitate.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets): Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — When to see the vet. - Severe scratching or skin infection - Flea allergy dermatitis (raw, hot spots) - Tick attached near the eye or in the ear canal - After tick removal: lameness, fever, loss of appetite, or unusual bruising (weeks later in some tick-borne diseases) - If a cat may have been exposed to dog-only flea products (emergency)

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets): Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats — Home and environment. Wash pet bedding hot, vacuum carpets and furniture thoroughly, and consider a vet-advised environmental spray if infestation is heavy. Repeat vacuuming breaks the flea life cycle.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets