Many readers will be very aware of the perils of fleas, though hopefully not had the experience of an infestation, so instead I will highlight some lesser known bugs which can affect the skin of dogs and cats.

Ticks are small parasites, which are visible to the naked eye.  They are often seen as individuals, but several can be picked up at the same time.  They live in long grass and woodland, but are attracted to animals by their warmth and movement.  They attach to pets’ extremities, but also hairless areas, so ears and bellies are ‘at risk’ areas as well.  Ticks feed from the animal’s blood, so have long mouth parts to attach through the skin. Once full or engorged, they drop off, usually much larger than when first attached.

Aside from being unattractive to look at, and easily confused with a wart initially, ticks cause mild to severe problems for the pet.  Localised skin irritation and infection can cause pain and, even once gone, this irritation persists. More worryingly, ticks can also transmit diseases, which are not always easy to diagnose.

Crucially it is important that ticks are not just pulled off, no matter how tempting it is! This often leaves their long mouth parts behind which causes further skin inflammation. There are many old wives tales as to how to get them to drop off, but the best method is by twisting them at the point they attach to the skin. This is often quite fiddly, but there are inexpensive tools available for this.

The best management for ticks is to apply a spot on treatment monthly to repel the ticks and start killing them as soon as they attach. However, it is important to remember that no treatment is fool proof, so I would always recommend checking your dog over thoroughly after a walk in woodland to ensure none have been picked up.

Ticks can be horrible little creatures to find, but once you have the right tools to deal with them, they will hopefully become a mere nuisance.

Harvest mites, as their name suggests, are seen in autumn, between June and November.  Animals normally pick them up from hedgerows and long grass, especially around fields, with both cats and dogs affected.  The mites are visible to the naked eye, as small dots of orange pollen.  They are most visible when found in the ear folds, but also around the nail beds, nipples and bottom.  Some animals are totally unaffected and are found incidentally on examination. However, many cats are very sensitive to their bite and their skin becomes very inflamed and itchy where the mites are found.  Unfortunately, the mites are difficult to kill as many routine spot on treatments are ineffective. Preventative treatment involves spraying the affected areas directly with an effective product, but cats which are very sensitive often need the mites physically removing, and the resultant skin irritation treated with oral and topical medication.

These mites are very frustrating to treat, the earlier we get medication on board the better.  However, some cats are so severely affected that they need to be kept indoors during the at risk time of the year.

If you have any worries or concerns about topics raised in this article, please don’t hesitate to contact your local vet for advice.

Emma Coles - Veterinary Surgeon at Drove Veterinary Hospital