--- title: "Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats" description: "UK flea and tick guide for dogs and cats — signs, year-round prevention, safe tick removal, Lyme risk, and why indoor cats still need treatment." url: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets" canonical: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets" date_published: "2026-06-23" date_modified: "2026-08-13" source: "PETHEALTH+" --- # Fleas and Ticks on Dogs and Cats **Fleas** cause itching, skin allergy, and can spread tapeworms; **ticks** attach, feed on blood, and in the UK may transmit Lyme disease. Modern **vet-prescribed preventatives** work far better than old-fashioned collars alone. Treat the pet, the other pets, and the home together. If you find a tick, remove it with a tick tool — never burn it or use petroleum jelly. Pair flea cover with a worming schedule. ## Signs your pet has fleas - Scratching, biting, or over-grooming - Small dark specks in the coat ("flea dirt" — digested blood; it reddens on wet kitchen paper) - Red, irritated skin or hair loss, especially the base of the tail and belly - Fleas visible when you part the fur — fast-moving dark insects One flea becomes hundreds within weeks because **eggs fall into bedding and carpets**. Treating only the itchy animal leaves the next generation in the sofa. Treat the **pet, all other pets in the home, and the environment** together. Cats may over-groom until the coat looks thin rather than scratch like a dog. Flea allergy dermatitis can look dramatic from a light burden. ## Signs of ticks Ticks look like small grey-brown bumps that grow as they feed. Check after walks in long grass, woodland, moorland and some urban parks — common sites include ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between toes. UK ticks of most concern for pets and people are **Ixodes** species. Prompt removal reduces the time a tick has to transmit pathogens. ## Prevention (the UK default) 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** and is an emergency if applied or licked. **Year-round prevention** is advised in much of the UK because central heating lets fleas complete their life cycle indoors through winter. Summer-only treatment is how January infestations start. Indoor cats are not automatically exempt. Fleas arrive on shoes, clothing and visiting dogs. See [cat worming](/health/cat-worming-schedule-uk) — fleas carry tapeworm, so the two plans belong together. Use the [worming & flea schedule checker](/worming-schedule) for a lifestyle cadence, then **confirm the product** with your vet. The checker is not a prescription and does not name a brand. ## 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 Do not use matches, oils, or nail polish — these irritate the skin and may cause the tick to regurgitate. If the mouthparts snap off, do not dig aggressively; clean the area and ask your vet if a lump or redness persists. ## UK disease risk According to UKHSA and UK veterinary guidance: - **Lyme disease (Borrelia)** can affect dogs and people after an infected tick bite. Not every tick is infected. Fever, lethargy, lameness or a spreading rash in a person after a bite needs medical advice — pets cannot tell you they have a rash under the fur. - **Babesiosis** has been reported in UK dogs in some areas. Sudden anaemia after a tick is a vet job, not a wait-and-see. - Fleas transmit **Dipylidium** tapeworm when the pet grooms and swallows a flea. Prevention and prompt removal beat folklore. Garlic, essential oils and brewer’s yeast are not licensed flea control — garlic is an [allium poison](/health/onion-garlic-poisoning-pets-uk). ## 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 - If a **cat** may have been exposed to dog-only flea products — **emergency** - Scooting or rice-like segments around the rear — possible tapeworm; treat fleas and worm on veterinary advice ## Home and environment Wash pet bedding hot, vacuum carpets and furniture thoroughly (empty the bag or canister outside), and consider a vet-advised environmental spray if infestation is heavy. Repeat vacuuming breaks the life cycle: eggs, larvae, pupae. Pupae can wait weeks, which is why a single wash is not the end. Out of hours skin emergencies are uncommon compared with blocked cats and GDV, but permethrin on a cat is not a morning problem — [emergency vet](/health/when-to-see-emergency-vet-uk). ## FAQs ### Can fleas live on humans? Cat and dog fleas may bite people but usually do not infest us long-term. Treating the pet, all other pets, and the home clears the problem. Persistent bites with no pet need a GP, not a stronger pet spray. ### How do I remove a tick from my dog? Use a tick hook or fine tweezers, grasp close to the skin, and pull steadily upward without twisting. Disinfect the bite and monitor for illness. Do not burn the tick or smother it in petroleum jelly. ### Do indoor cats need flea treatment? Usually yes — fleas hitchhike on people and other pets, and eggs persist in carpets. Ask your vet about year-round prevention even for indoor-only cats. ### What diseases do UK ticks carry? In the UK, Ixodes ticks can transmit Lyme disease (Borrelia) to dogs and people. Babesiosis has been found in some UK dogs. Prompt removal and licensed prevention reduce risk. Follow UKHSA advice if you were bitten too. ### Do fleas mean I also need to worm? Fleas can carry tapeworm. Flea control and worming sit together. Use the PETHEALTH+ worming schedule checker for cadence, then confirm products with your vet. ## Sources - [ESCCAP UK — Flea and tick guidelines](https://www.esccap.org.uk) - [PDSA — Fleas on pets](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub) - [Blue Cross — Ticks](https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice) - [UKHSA — Lyme disease](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lyme-disease-guidance-data-and-analysis) - [BSAVA — Parasite control](https://www.bsava.com/) Canonical HTML: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/fleas-and-ticks-in-pets Last modified: 2026-08-13