Fleas, a serious risk for dogs and other pets in Spain

The warm climate in southern Spain means that fleas are an active threat all year round

Fleas have always been present in our society and are not only capable of spreading multiple epidemics amongst humans, but are also responsible for many animal ailments if preventative measures are not taken.

Flea saliva can cause not only itching, but loss of skin and skin infections, as well as transmitting internal parasites such as tapeworms (Equinococcus), which can cause liver problems, and bacterial infections such as Ehrlichia and Hemobartonelo.

The life cycle of a flea is very simple- males and females both live on the skin of the animal and lay their eggs directly onto the skin. The eggs fall to the ground where they hatch, the larvae emerge and grow very quickly, and then as soon as they are big enough leap back onto the skin of any passing animal, including humans. This whole cycle takes only 10 to 12 days.

Because of the warm climate in many parts of Spain fleas are active all year around, and it is often not enough to treat only the animals which are susceptible to flea bites. For those with a lot of animals, especially if living in a rural environment, minimising infestations by preventative spraying of living areas is very important.

Whilst it is virtually impossible to eliminate fleas completely, minimizing exposure will help to limit breeding numbers considerably.

Domestic animals should all be treated with flea preventative chemicals, which are available either as flea collars or spot on treatments. While flea collars are a lower priced option, they do not deal adequately with other parasites and should be replaced more regularly than manufacturers recommend.

Dog collars such as Scalibor, which are effective in minimizing the risk of Leishmaniosis and ticks, are also effective against fleas, and should be replaced at least every six months. These are expensive, but are best purchased from a registered vet or fully legitimate source.

It is tempting to cut corners and purchase flea treatments and Scalibor collars online, but be aware that there is a MASSIVE problem online with counterfeiting, and very often cheaper products purchased from unknown suppliers are not what they claim to be, and in some cases can even be harmful for pets.

Fakes are difficult to detect and if considering purchasing online, make sure that the supplier is entirely reputable and check for comments and feedback relating to this supplier before purchasing. Also bear in mind that products being sold at discount rates at non-official markets have probably been purchased online, and may not be the genuine article, even though their vendor believes them to be.

At the end of the day, these products are expensive, but exist to protect your pet from some of the unpleasant conditions which can accompany the bites of sand flies, ticks and fleas in Spain, so bear that in mind when deciding where to purchase pet protection.