Fleas, ticks, lice, maggots, and mites are common external parasites that host animals. Most cause animals to scratch excessively, and can bite human too. Fleas are tiny brown-black insects that move through the animal’s coat. They spend most of their time off the animals and ‘jump on’ to feed. Blood meal is essential for them to reproduce. For good flea control the whole life cycle should be stopped. This may be the main reason for failure in their control. It is advisable to control fleas all year round and not let them build up during the winter months. Most households in the UK are blessed with the use of central heating, which “save” the fleas and help them surviving the cold winter.

Ticks are small, round, dark-colour insects with hard shells (when young) that attach themselves to an animal’s skin. They feed blood and have long mouth parts that can cause pain, infections at times. Most female ticks lay hundreds and even thousands of eggs for secure the next generation. Ticks can transfer a disease called Lyme disease. A serious disease that must be dealt by a veterinarian.

Lice are small, dark-gray insects that remain in one place on an animal’s body. They mostly cause irritation, which may lead to secondary skin disease. Lice can be treated with the same potions that work on fleas and ticks

Maggots look like small worms. They are a larva stage of flies, which hatch after flies are attracted to dump and dirty places. They are more common to attack rabbits and can inflict horrendous injury. Maggot infestation is not very common in dogs and cats but is rather common in rabbits. If present, should be treated by a veterinarian with no delay.

Mites & Mange, which are invisible to the unaided eye, characteristically cause skin and ear irritation and can lead to mark skin infection. Most common mites affecting dogs are sarcoptic mange and demodex. Harvest mites could also be a problem occasionally.

External parasites can be readily eliminated and controlled with commercially available powders, baths, sprays, and dips. Not all pet products are affective for all types of external parasites. And not all products out there on the shelves have the same efficacy for the proposed parasites. Check the labels of such treatments carefully to be sure they are appropriate for use on your animal and that they will control the parasite in question. Most importantly make sure that the product is intended for the use of a specific animal species. Some product intended for dogs are very toxic to cats. Fleas can be controlled with flea collars, sprays, powders, baths, and spot-on preparations. The spot-on preparations are mostly used for fleas and ticks due to ease of application and good efficacy. Not all spot-on preparations are the same. The most recommended are Advocate.  Frontline and Advantage. Frontling has the advantage of dealing with fleas and ticks. Advocate has its advantage by dealing with fleas, mange, mites, and round worms.

It is extremely important to treat animals, surrounding furniture and carpets to eliminate infestations. Remember that we need to eliminate all life cycles for the infestation to stop. Mange infestation could be serious and if recurrent or not responding to initial treatment it should be treated by a veterinarian.

Preventative treatment for external parasites should be tailored to the life style of the pet. An indoor cat would not need the same intensity of treatment as a heroic hunter. A dog that spend long hours in wood lands also will need more care than a lap dog that its toughest activity would be to  his number one on the nearby patch of grass.