Fleas and Ticks

Fleas' veterinary importance:

1. Fleas cause itchiness and blood loss. Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is one of the most common allergies in dogs and may lead to the formation of hotspots (pyotraumatic dermatitis.)

2. Fleas are vectors of several diseases – Cat Scratch Disease is a disease caused by a bacteria that can be found in flea excrement and infect the cat's nails; Feline heamobartonelosis, a bacteria that attaches to the cell wall of red blood cells and thus cause their destruction and therefore anemia. (Fleas are also the vectors for The Plague)

3. Fleas are vectors of intestinal worms (tape worms.) When a flea gets infected with tape worms it becomes slower and can then be swallowed by an animal while it grooms. This is also true for children that pet animals and then put their hands in their mouth. The swallowed flea is digested and the worms are released into the intestinal tract. When a dog has worms we will often see it rubbing his behind on the floor. When a cat has worms, we will often see worm segments, which look like cucumber or sesame seeds, where it lies.

Ticks are arachnids and, unlike fleas, they are temporary ectoparasites. This means that they stay on the animal for several days only. Ticks are also not host specific. The female tick is larger than the male, approximately 1cm compared to 2-3mm. Ticks can often be found on high grass, waiting for an animal to pass close enough for them to latch on to.

After mating and being fertilized, the female feeds on blood for 14 days, drops to the ground, lays her eggs in a safe place and dies.

Ticks' veterinary importance:

1. In cases of severe infestations, ticks can cause anemia.

2. Ticks can cause skin lesions due to piercing of the skin for blood meals and due to inappropriate removal of them by owners or by the animal's scratching.

3. Lyme disease. A tick borne disease that infects humans. This disease is very rare in Israel.

4. Tick Fever – a disease caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia canis and can be fatal. Tick fever have several phases:

• The acute phase starts 1-3 weeks post infection and lasts 2-4 weeks. During this phase the bacteria multiplies in the blood cells and spreads throughout the body. The infected cells attach to the inner side of blood vessels, cause inflammation there (vasculitis) and therefore use of platelets. The clinical signs characteristic of this phase are fever, enlargement of lymph nodes, enlargement of the spleen and a decrease in platelets number that leads to hemorrhages, hematomas, etc.  Sometimes anorexia, depression, lethargy, oedema of the extremities and scrotum, coughing and difficulty breathing can be seen.
• The subacute phase lasts several months to years. Some dogs get rid of the bacteria during this phase, others become chronic.
• The chronic phase, during which the bone marrow is affected. The clinical signs in this phase depend on the affected organs and include enlargement of the spleen, kidney damage, pneumonia, eye infections, meningitis (leading to discoordination, depression, paralysis and hyperestasia), weight loss, hemorrhages, hematomas.

Many products against fleas and ticks can be found in the market. Most recommended are spot-on products which are ampoules used monthly. Some act only against fleas, some against fleas, ticks and other parasites. Fleas and ticks are most common in the summer time but it is highly recommended to also treat against them in the colder seasons because the cold in Israel is not enough to kill them.