Flea plague on the way, pet owners warned

Break out the flea powder: New Zealand looks set to have a plague this summer.

Bayer New Zealand vet Dr Kirstie Inglis has warned a mild winter and a forecast long hot summer will create perfect conditions for a massive flea outbreak this year.

If left unchecked, infestations could harm people as well as cats and dogs, she said. In rare cases there may be more serious repercussions such as bacterial infections or transmission of flea tapeworm.

‘‘Pet owners need to start thinking about a flea control strategy now before numbers become out of control in the warmer weather,’’ Inglis said.

Excessive scratching, nibbling or grooming could often lead to bald spots, she said.

Fleas feed by piercing the skin, injecting a substance that stops blood clotting and sucking up the resulting free-flowing blood.

Heavy infestations can produce life-threatening anaemia in small kittens and puppies. Flea saliva can also trigger severe reactions in allergic animals.

‘‘Few people realise that only about 5 per cent of the flea population live as adults on a pet. The remaining 95 per cent live in the environment as eggs, larvae and pupae which develop into adults,’’ Inglis said. These concentrate around pets’ sleeping areas and like hiding in carpets, cracks between floorboards and under debris in the garden.

Tips for tackling fleas include regularly cleaning pets’ bedding in a hot wash, and preventing animals likestray cats from entering the home.