HOW TURNING THE HEATING ON CAN GIVE PET OWNERS FLEAS: WARM HOUSES CREATE ‘IDEAL BREEDING GROUND FOR THE PARASITES’, EXPERT CLAIMS
Source: Mail Online (Extract) (Extract)
Posted: Oct 07, 2019
- Most people heat their homes to 21°C – 25°C in autumn or winter months
- This creates the ideal breeding ground for fleas, a parasitologist says
- The warmer the house is, the faster the insects will reproduce and infest
- Half of pet owners were unaware their animal had fleas until shown by a vet
As winter approaches, nothing is more comforting than a warm house.
But while having the heating on makes for a cosy home for humans, it also attracts other visitors.
A third of pet owners are unaware that turning up the temperature in their house creates an ideal breeding ground for fleas.
Where a flea infestation occurs, warm conditions can lead to flea pupae – cocoons in which fleas encase themselves in – to hatch in the home.
Ian Wright, a parasitologist from the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) of UK and Ireland, said: ‘As long as the humidity remains over 75 per cent – and temperatures don’t exceed 30°C – then for fleas, the warmer the better.
‘Fleas can complete their life cycle in less than three weeks at 29°C.
‘So the warmer the house is, the faster they will reproduce up to that point.’
His comments come as a survey revealed more than a third of pet owners turn up their heating in the autumn and winter months to between 21°C and 25°C, providing the optimum temperature for fleas to breed.
The poll found one in 10 pet owners have noticed fleas on their pet and in the house during this period.
The majority of fleas (95 per cent) can be found within carpets and soft furnishings.
This is unsurprising given that almost half of owners admit to sharing a bed with their pet and three quarters allow their cats to sleep on their sofa, according to the survey.
It also revealed that 10 per cent only ever treat their pets for parasites when they see fleas.
Worryingly, half of pet owners were completely unaware their pet had fleas until they were shown by a vet.
Paul Manktelow, veterinary surgeon and founder of Vital Pet Health, said it is important to go to the vets if your pet has fleas, rather than simply looking for advice online.
Many pet owners will not realise they have a flea infestation in their home, he added.
He said: ‘There is a high probability your dog or cat will have had fleas or worms at some point in their life, but depending on the degree of the infestation you may not have realised how many live hidden away in your home.
‘It is important to speak to your vet about receiving the right preventative treatment to stop these infestations.’
The survey was commissioned by Bayer Animal Health.
