During lockdown, when vets across the country are running emergency services only, you may be wondering how you can keep on top of your pet’s flea and worming treatments. With spring here, our pets are likely to be spending much more time outside in the garden, bringing a greater risk of picking up fleas and other nasty parasites.

PDSA Vet Nurse Joanne Wright said: “Despite temporary changes to the way vet practices are running, there are still many ways to keep your pet healthy and free from parasites.

Fleas, ticks and worms can become more problematic as the weather warms up, and while flea and worming treatments might be less available from your vets, you can still purchase treatments from trusted sites, such as PDSA’s online pet store. For most healthy adult pets, missing a flea treatment during the pandemic shouldn’t cause too much of a problem over a short period of time, especially if they don’t come into contact with many other animals.

“However, it’s important to keep on top of flea and worming treatments in very young pets because a lot of fleas on a small or young animal can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening, blood loss.

“In some pets, fleas can trigger an allergic skin reaction called ‘flea allergic dermatitis’ (FAD), a reaction to flea saliva which can drive our four-legged friends mad through severe itching and sore skin. It is extremely important to keep up with regular flea treatments if your pet suffers from this condition.

Remember that flea treatments meant for dogs should never be used on cats because they may contain ‘permethrin’, an ingredient that can be fatal to felines.

If your pet has a problem with, or could be at risk from, any other parasites it’s important that you get advice from your vet.

Different, prescription treatments may be needed depending on the parasite involved.