BENEFITS OF OWNING A PET:

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3 BENEFITS OF OWNING A PET: 1 Ensuring your pet is kept happy and healthy is important so they have the best quality of life possible and can enhance our lives in return. Alongside the joy that pets can bring us,there are a number of physical health and psychological benefits they can provide: Increased physical activity Dogs especially help us to get out and enjoy the outdoors while getting some regular exercise Growing up with a pet during childhood may help to strengthen the immune system and can reduce the risk of allergies Pets enhance social connections and social skills and are great conversation starters Pets are great caregivers. They keep us company when we re sick or feeling down Pets can help make us feel safe when we re home alone and they keep an eye on the house when we re out FOREWORD BY PAUL MANKTELOW, BVMS The joy and love that pets bring to our lives is hard to put into words, but there are an abundance of benefits we as humans gain from sharing our lives with our four-legged friends. These range from companionship and support to increased exercise and teaching our children important life lessons. We look after them and they look after us. However, the parasites and micro-beast invaders that our pets can bring in to the home, such as fleas and worms, often go unnoticed and infestations can pose a risk, not only to our beloved pets but also to ourselves and our families. This report by Bayer Animal Health aims to shine a light on the crime scene where these parasites might lurk in the home, the potential health risks they can pose and, most importantly, the preventative measures you can take to help keep Britain s pets happy and healthy. INTRODUCING THE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS: PAUL MANKTELOW Paul is a leading veterinary surgeon, founder of Vital Pet Health and has appeared on a number of TV programmes as a veterinary presenter. RICHARD MOSELEY Richard is the Technical Manager at the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and looks after technical enquiries on pest control from the general public. PROFESSOR RICHARD WALL Richard is a professor of Zoology at the University of Bristol and specialises in the area of Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology. PROFESSOR GEOFF HIDE Geoff is the Programme Leader at Salford University for Biology, Zoology, Human Biology and Infectious Diseases.

4 FLEAS AND WORMS IS YOUR HOME AT RISK? WHAT IS THE RISK IN THE UK? As the majority of properties in the UK are now fitted with central heating systems, parasites are able to thrive in a warm environment all year round, even during winter. This was historically the time of year when populations died off or became dormant due to colder temperatures. With the UK also increasingly seeing a trend of warmer, wetter weather in recent years, parasites such as fleas and worms are able to survive for longer outside, further increasing the parasite pool and the risk of your pet coming into contact with them. PARASITE CASE NOTES TOXOCARA EGGS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN 1 IN 5 SOIL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM PARKS 1 NEGLECTING TO TREAT THE HOME ENVIRONMENT COULD MEAN YOU WILL MISS MORE THAN 90 % OF THE DEVELOPING FLEA POPULATION 2 FLEAS CAN CAUSE SKIN DISEASE IN BOTH HUMANS AND ANIMALS WITH HALF OF ONE FEMALE ADULT 50 % TOXOCARA ROUNDWORM ALL DOGS CAN PRODUCE 85,000 IN ONE STUDY WERE OF FLEAS FOUND TO FOUND TO HAVE BE CARRYING AT LEAST PARASITE EGGS IN ONE DISEASE 3 THEIR COAT 4 EGGS A DAY 8 WHAT IS THE RISK IN THE UK? ALMOST 1/5 UNTIL THEY WERE SHOWN BY A VET, NEARLY 40 % 50 % (59 % ) OF PET OWNERS WERE COMPLETELY UNAWARE THEIR PET HAD FLEAS 5 OF PET OWNERS SAY THEIR PETS HAD PICKED UP PARASITES FROM BEING OUTDOORS IN THE PARK 6 OF PET OWNERS SAID THAT HAVING FLEAS IN THEIR HOME MADE THEM FEEL UPSET AND 1 IN 10 EVEN SAID IT MADE THEM FEEL NEGLECTFUL 6 MORE THAN HALF OF PET OWNERS SAY THEIR CAT OR DOG HAS HAD FLEAS AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST 6

5 THE CRIME SCENE HOTSPOTS If your pet is not properly protected, your home may become a haven for parasites, which is why it s very important to speak to your vet about preventative treatments for your pet. Here are some of the most common hotspots around the home where fleas or worms may be hiding out: PET BEDDING It stands to reason that a place such as pet bedding, where your pet sleeps and spends most of its time, will be hosting a large population of parasites. Of those surveyed, 28 per cent 6 of owners say they have found fleas in their pet s bedding. CRIME SCENE ADVICE Wash your pet s bedding on a high temperature regularly. Use a routine preventative flea treatment on your pet to help keep them parasite free. GARDEN INVADERS Your back garden may seem secluded but it s here where you and your pets can come into contact with a whole variety of parasites, including roundworms such as Toxocara which can pose a real risk to humans. Once inside your pet, worms can be undetectable for a very long time but if left untreated,can make them extremely ill. If your pet frequently patrols the garden and hunts they will be more susceptible to tapeworm. Gardens can also be home to slugs and snails. Dogs contract lungworm by eating infected slugs and snails, and if left untreated this can prove fatal. SOFT FURNISHINGS AND CARPETS Wherever your pet dog or cat goes, the parasites will unfortunately go with them and they particularly thrive in soft furnishings. More than 1 in 10 people 6 surveyed found fleas on their sofas and it is estimated 95 per cent 7 of the flea population in a home is found within carpets and soft furnishings. Furthermore, 14 per cent 6 of pet owners admit to throwing away cushions and sofa covers following a flea infestation. Remember fleas can also transmit tapeworm to pets. CARS If you regularly take your dog out for walks in the car, there is an increased risk of a parasite build-up in the vehicle upholstery. Anything that gets on your dog out in the park is likely to collect in a car where the animal sits, be that worm eggs from the soil or fleas from other animals. CRIME SCENE ADVICE Hoover your carpets and soft furnishings regularly to help remove any flea eggs that have dropped off your pet and dust or debris that parasites can hide amongst Apply an effective routine flea treatment to all dogs and cats on a regular basis CRIME SCENE ADVICE CRIME SCENE ADVICE To help keep them healthy worm your pet regularly, at least every 3 months, for intestinal worms, or even every month in high risk situations or if concerned about lungworm. Pooper-scoop your garden every day as this is how worm eggs get into the environment. Remove the poo and you remove the worm eggs! Just as you would a carpet in the home, ensure regular hoovering and cleaning in the car to help get rid of any parasite which may be lurking! Put down a blanket in the vehicle where your pet usually sits and make sure this is changed and cleaned regularly Keep your garden clear of any rubbish or debris as this will attract rodents which can also transfer worms and fleas to your pet Remove and clean any muddy shoes, bike or buggy wheels before going into the home to avoid bringing in parasites such as worm eggs Keep an eye out for your dog picking up slugs and snails as these may be carrying lungworm which can be fatal to your pet. Speak to your vet about a monthly preventative treatment AIRING CUPBOARDS Our pets, especially cats, love warm places in the house and airing cupboards can provide the ideal environment for them to sleep in and allow flea populations to thrive and spread around the house. These areas provide the perfect incubator for flea eggs, larvae and pupae. CRIME SCENE ADVICE Make sure you always keep your cupboard doors shut to stop pets from getting in Wash any bedding or sheets on a high temperature

6 THE LIFE-CYCLE OF A FLEA FLEA CASE NOTES ADULT FLEAS Adult fleas feed on your pets blood. They can produce up to 50 eggs per day. Just two fleas on your pet is all it takes to complete the life cycle. There are more than 2,000 different species of fleas worldwide A female flea can lay around 2,000 eggs over her lifetime Fleas can jump 80 times their own height Fleas can survive a force of 100Gs You may see adult fleas in a pet s coat but due to the way fleas have adapted their shape they can quickly move through the fur and easily disappear UNDER THE MICROSCOPE THE FLEA FLEA EGGS Eggs are laid by fleas on your pet. These eggs then fall off to contaminate your home and surroundings. Eggs hatch within 2 5 days to form larvae PUPAE Most commonly, new fleas emerge in 1-4 weeks. Flea pupae can remain dormant in the environment for up to 6 months or more before reemerging to infest your pet FLEA LARVAE Larvae feed off flea dirt and debris in the environment. Flea larvae develop into pupae. EFFECTS ON YOUR PET Fleas can cause Flea Bite Dermatitis by irritating the skin of the animal Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) is caused by an allergy to flea saliva Heavy infestations (particularly in small animals i.e. kittens and puppies) can lead to anaemia Fleas can also be responsible for the transmission of viral and bacterial disease SUSPECT PROFILE OF THE FLEA A flea s body is covered in tiny hairs that point away from the flea s head which make it easy for them to crawl through their host s fur Their bodies are covered with hard plates which protect fleas from everything from an animal s teeth to hitting the floor after a long jump The mouth is adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood, which includes saw and needle like parts The hind legs are the principal jumping organs The flea s gut contains a pump which creates suction to draw blood from the mouth into its body

7 UNDER THE MICROSCOPE THE FLEA HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS AND BE A FLEA DETECTIVE You may see adult fleas hop on your soft furnishings and carpet. Keep an eye out for several 3mm long insects on your pet s fur. Your pet is likely to scratch, lick or bite their fur excessively. Check carefully for signs of scratching, redness, blood, or dirt. These can all be signs of fleas. The skin may appear red and bumpy, especially if your pet is doing a lot of scratching. The best way to check for fleas is using a flea comb, which you can get from your vet or local pet store. Comb the hair on your pet s back and legs; the flea comb s teeth are designed to lift fleas out of your pet s hair. You may not always see an adult flea when you comb, but combing also dislodges flea dirt which are little bits of digested blood. If you then tap the comb onto a piece of white paper and add a few drops of water to the debris collected, the flea dirt will show up on the paper as little reddy-brown dots, while actual dirt just remains dark. CRIME SCENE EXPERT FLEA ADVICE PAUL MANKTELOW Fleas are definitely the parasite which is most likely to invade your home and they breed prolifically. Not only do they jump and get everywhere, but they also show a lot of resilience in terms of how many eggs they lay. It is important to speak to your vet about receiving the right preventative treatment to stop these infestations. RICHARD MOSELEY Fleas can shut themselves down, only to re-awaken several months later when they sense the vibration of feet, heat of the body or even carbon dioxide from an animal s or human s breath. This means that many people get outbreaks of fleas when they move into houses and disturb the pupae that are already there. Ensuring your home is kept clean can really help limit the severity of a flea infestation. PROFESSOR RICHARD WALL Fleas are great survivors and are highly adapted over millions of years to be able to lay dormant for long periods of time without anyone living in the house. Only 1-5 per cent of the flea population is actually represented by the adults on the pet and is really just the tip of the iceberg. The remaining 95 per cent is hidden in the environment. The best way to avoid a flea infestation is to treat your pet regularly with a suitable treatment and also use an appropriate product in the environment. PROFESSOR GEOFF HIDE There is a relative abundance of cat fleas in the UK but not so many dog fleas, which are fading fast. Do not be fooled though, cat fleas are also the most commonly found type of flea on dogs too!. OUR HOLIDAY HOME WAS RUINED BY FLEAS! Nathalie Cole is a vet, aged 28, from the West Midlands. Nathalie and her husband went to stay in a cottage owned by his parents one weekend, only to find it infested with fleas. Upon arrival we noticed there was a problem straight away. In every room we were finding fleas. We couldn t see any of the fleas but we felt them jumping on to our legs and biting us me in particular, at least one every minute. As a short term solution we wore wellies in the house that evening and slept up in the attic, as the bed up there had the least fleas on it! It turned out the cat flap at the house had been left unlocked and a stray cat had been coming in and out - it had infested the whole house. The next day we used several cans of flea spray on the whole house, including all soft furnishings, and washed all the bedding and sofa covers (6 bedrooms worth!). Now the cat flap is locked and all visitors bringing pets to the holiday cottage have to make sure their pets receive regular treatments. There have been no further problems since!

8 STAGE 4 Eggs in the soil are accidentally swallowed by animals such as rodents, birds or even humans WORM CASE NOTES Cat or dog eats rodent, bird, or the worm eggs in the environment Adult worms produce eggs which are released in the faeces Eggs hatch into larvae when swallowed and grow to become adult worms in the cat or dog s intestines One female adult Toxocara roundworm can produce 85,000 eggs a day Eggs can take a few weeks to develop to an infectious stage and can then survive for at least one year under optimal circumstances Toxocara infection is highest in puppies and kittens up to 6 months of age but can be seen at any age UNDER THE MICROSCOPE THE INTESTINAL WORM STAGE 1 STAGE 3 THE LIFE-CYCLE OF AN INTESTINAL WORM STAGE 2 THE INTESTINAL WORM IDENTITY PARADE I LOST MY EYE BECAUSE OF TOXOCARA Mother of two, Nadine Nash, 35, lost her eye 30 years after contracting toxocarosis as a primary school pupil, but that hasn t changed her love of dogs, just her understanding of the responsibility of being a dog owner. However, despite ongoing visits to a specialist eye unit and a series of operations, the parasite, which had lain dormant for over 20 years, struck again in 2001, when Nadine s vision worsened after developing serious glaucoma. Nadine underwent immediate treatment in an attempt to salvage her vision but it was eventually decided that her eye would need to be removed. I had never heard of this condition before but, although it is rare, I am proof that it can happen to anyone. Responsible owners should take the time to learn the various parasites that can be carried by their pets, most of which are completely preventable. Children are particularly at risk because they will often touch an object out of curiosity and do not always wash their hands afterwards. I am proof of how debilitating this condition can be. Despite this I still own a dog, which is thoroughly wormed and treated - I would urge all pet owners to do the same. There are a number of different types of intestinal worm. Here are some of the most common culprits: ROUNDWORM HOOKWORM WHIPWORM TAPEWORM Roundworms are the most common of the parasitic worms found inside a dog or cat and almost all are infected with them at some point in their lives. Your cat or dog may accidentally swallow infectious roundworm eggs from the environment, or by eating mice or other small animals carrying the parasite. Adult roundworms live in the intestines and most dogs or cats will not show signs of infection, however those with major roundworm infections may vomit, show signs of weight loss, have dull hair and a potbellied appearance. Hookworms are much more common in dogs than cats and live in their digestive systems. The hookworm attaches to the lining of the intestinal wall and feeds on the animal s blood. Hookworm larvae that hatch from hookworm eggs live in the soil and can infect your pet directly through the skin or feet and also by being swallowed accidentally. Hookworms cause bleeding in the intestines resulting in internal blood loss. Severe infections can result in the death of puppies and kittens. Adult cats and dogs may also suffer blood loss from hookworms and can have diarrhoea and show weight loss. Tapeworms look like long, flat ribbons or tapes, divided into segments and live in the small intestine. They can often be seen in the pet s faeces or attached to the fur under the tail. Animals may need tapeworm treatment more often if they hunt or scavenge, or have access to sheep/cattle carcasses. A flea is the intermediate host for the most common tapeworm and it is estimated that a cat will ingest around 50% of any fleas present on their coat through the process of natural grooming. Tapeworms can cause discomfort and itchiness and affected pets may try to bite or lick their anus, or drag their hind quarters across the floor in response to the itchiness. Symptoms such as constipation or diarrhoea can also occur. In the UK this parasite is usually only seen in dogs, not cats. Adult whipworms often look like tiny pieces of thread with one end enlarged and can be found in the animal s faeces. If a dog shows signs of chronic weight loss and passes stools with a covering of mucous, it may be infected with whipworm. Although seen only rarely, whipworm can be a real nuisance for the dog and can often be hard for vets to diagnose.

9 THE HUMAN RISK FROM FLEAS AND WORMS HOW ARE INFECTIONS PASSED FROM FLEAS AND WORMS TO HUMANS? STAGE 1 Infected pet or wild animal excretes parasite eggs (e.g. toxocara roundworm) in faeces STAGE 2 Eggs develop in environment and become infectious STAGE 3 Humans or pets can accidentally pick up and swallow eggs from environment e.g. soil or from animal faeces STAGE 1 Fleas jump on to your pet cat, dog or rabbit, feed on the animal s blood and lay eggs within 48 hours STAGE 2 The eggs quickly fall from the coat into the home environment (e.g. carpets), where they develop into larvae STAGE 3 The larva forms a pupa inside which it changes into an adult flea STAGE 4 The young adult emerges from the pupa when conditions are favourable and immediately looks to jump onto a suitable host, including humans HOW DO I KNOW IF I VE BEEN BITTEN AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Flea bites on humans are usually located on the lower legs and feet and can be identified as small red spots, surrounded by red halos Like mosquitoes, fleas can spread serious illnesses to humans, including cat scratch fever (Bartonellosis) and typhus Other rare symptoms include: hives, a rash and swelling around the bite Some people may even have an allergic reaction to flea bites as they would to an insect bite, by releasing too much histamine HOW DO I KNOW IF I VE GOT TOXOCAROSIS AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Many people who are infected with Toxocarosis do not have symptoms and do not ever get sick However, some people may get sick from the parasite and develop any of the following symptoms: vision loss, eye damage, fever, fatigue, coughing, wheezing RICHARD MOSELEY It is often difficult to be fully confident that you have been bitten by a flea and not another insect such as a mosquito, unless you can actually see one. The bites are very similar. HOW DO I LIMIT THE RISK OF PARASITE INFECTION? Best practice advice from the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCAP) to protect your family from parasites Wash your hands after stroking your pet because a pet s coat may contain worm eggs Avoid all facial contact with your pet Wash your hands after any exposure to soil (gardening), sandpits, raw meat and litter trays Clean out litter trays daily Supervise infants on the floor don t allow them to eat dirt or food that has fallen Dispose of animal faeces safely and considerately so they are not contaminating the environment

10 RECOMMENDED PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR FLEAS AND WORMS PAUL MANKTELOW It s important to remember that even if you do get an outbreak of fleas or worms it isn t the end of the world, there are lots of things you can do to get rid of them, starting with contacting your vet for advice. CAMPAIGN CALL TO ACTION SPEAK to your vet about the right parasite preventative treatment for your pet Prevention is better than cure, so: Make sure your pet is wormed at least once every three months with an effective wormer If you own a dog, pooper-scoop the garden every day to help reduce the number of worm eggs that get into the environment Keep your garden free of debris and rubbish to reduce your pet s chances of coming into contact with rodents Check your pet for fleas regularly, using a flea comb Apply an effective flea treatment to all cats and dogs in the home regularly ideally one that is active against more than one flea life-stage Hoover carpets regularly to reduce the number of flea eggs and pupae in the carpet Wash pet bedding on a high temperature regularly Download the Jungle For Pets parasite protection reminder service app to ensure you don t forget to use regular flea and worm preventatives for your pet SPREAD the word and find out if your pet and family could be at risk by following the conversation at or by following JungleForPets on Twitter WATCH the Home Invaders documentary with presenter Phil Spencer and vet Paul Manktelow online at DOWNLOAD: Jungle for Pets parasite protection reminder app ( REFERENCES 1 Kirchheimer and Jacobs, Veterinary Record (2008)163, Research in the department of Entomology focusing on Pest Management and applied ecology: 3 Shaw SE, Kenny MJ, Tasker S, Birtles RJ Sep 8;102(3-4): Pathogen carriage by the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) in the United Kingdom 4 Wolfe A,Wright IP.VET REC 154:208, Bond et al. A survey of flea infestation in cats and dogs in the UK. Veterinary Record (2007) 160, pg Survey conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of Bayer Animal Health, January 2015 among 1,534 dog/cat owners 7 British Pest Control Association 8 Drontal.com

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12 Use Medicines Responsibly ( Bayer PLC, Animal Health Division, Strawberry Hill, Newbury RG14 1JA L.GB