Nothing beats the feeling of coming home after a long day and being welcomed by your pet! You fall to the ground and rub his belly as barks of joy fill your home. It’s a beautiful moment – until you spot a flea or a sneaky little tick hiding behind his ear!
Don’t worry, though, we have all the inside info: What they are, what they do, and – most importantly – how to stop them.
Meet the pests
FLEAS:
Fleas are one of the most common pests on your pet. Fleas can jump 30 000 times in a row without stopping and can jump over 150 times their own size which is like you jumping the length of a football field. The scary thing about fleas is that just one flea can become 1,000 on your pet in only 21 days. Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) is very common and causes severe itchiness.
Helpful fact: fleas attract tapeworms, so animals with fleas need to be dewormed as well.
TICKS:
Ticks are the daredevils of the pest kingdom. They don’t jump or fly at all but instead, they crawl up low bushes or grass to find a host. Then they stretch out their front legs to grab hold of a passing animal or human. Sometimes, they even free-fall onto a passing host. Ticks cause Babesiosis (Biliary) and Ehrlichia (Tick bite fever) which causes severe anaemia and can be fatal.
Helpful fact: Ticks require 24 – 48 hours of feeding before they transmit infection, so prompt removal is crucial.
MITES:
Mites are the ninjas of the pest kingdom. Most mites are so small you need a microscope to see them. Mites feed on dead human skin and pet dander.
Sarcoptes mites cause severe itchiness and can be transmitted to humans, Otodectes mites cause ear infections, and Demodex mites cause marked hair loss and thickening of the skin, also known as “Brandsiek”.
Helpful fact: There are about 10 000 house-dust mites in an average bed, so be sure to change your bedding regularly.
Treatments
The one thing that all pests have in common is that they’re much easier prevented than treated. BRAVECTO is one of the many products designed to prevent diseases transmitted by fleas, ticks and mites.
What is Bravecto?
BRAVECTO is a yummy, palatable tablet given to your dog once every 12 weeks. It is best absorbed when given with food. And don’t worry, it’s a small, chewy tablet – your pet will think it’s a treat.
How does it work?
Bravecto contains an active ingredient called Fluralaner which is absorbed into your pet’s bloodstream and deposited in the fat layer under the skin. When a tick or flea bites, the active ingredient is ingested, and the parasite dies within hours. The product kills adults, larvae and eggs – a very important aspect in tick and flea prevention.
Is it safe?
Make sure your pet passes the criteria before you feed them Bravecto:
- Older than 8 weeks
- Weighs more than 2kg
- Not prone to Epilepsy
Helpful tip: Bravecto is safe for pregnant and lactating animals as well.
