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Please note that we’re not vets at Hug Your Pet, so if you have a medical concern about your cat or dog you should speak to your local vet.
Most of the time, dog fleas will hop onto and bite your pet, but they will sometimes bite people, particularly if there are a lot around. You could be bitten anywhere on your body, but it’s most often around your ankles and lower legs. The skin can be itchy and red around the bite.
Ticks can bite and attach themselves to people too, where they can cause severe reactions and can spread tick-borne diseases. However a tick won’t jump from your pet to you. Most commonly people pick them up walking bare-legged through areas of long grass.
As a pet gets older, its nutritional needs will change. Wear and tear on organs will mean that their bodies will be less adaptable to different nutrients. In general ‘senior’ foods for older cats will have controlled levels of certain nutrients such as salt and some minerals such as phosphorus, and occasionally protein.
Many senior foods are suitable to be fed from 7 years old. Some brands have ‘mature’ foods designed to be fed from 7 until about 10 years, after which senior food can be given.
‘Light’ senior foods are available if your pet is prone to weight gain. Weight loss in an older cat can be a sign of underlying disease, so it’s best to have regular check-ups by your vet, who can recommend an appropriate food.
You should give your puppy good quality flea and worm treatments that are recommended by vets and healthcare professionals as these will be more effective. Initially you’ll need to treat your puppy several times for worms as they often have a worm burden from their mum. The recommended interval will depend on the product used, but it’s often every two to four weeks.
Flea treatments are available in convenient spot-on formulations, which is helpful when trying to apply to a wriggly puppy. Most formulations can be applied by simply parting the hair over the neck or shoulders where your puppy can’t turn round and lick it off, and applying the liquid directly to the skin in one spot. Fleas are easily picked up when your puppy goes out and about, so it’s a good idea to treat for them regularly at the interval suggested on the packet, so they don’t get a chance to establish in your house.
Ideally, you should try to brush your pet’s teeth every day. As with ourselves, regular brushing helps to get rid of the bacteria which builds up in the mouth (plaque) and causes inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
It’s best to get into a good habit of teeth brushing when your cat is young, but you can start any time. Your vet will be able to assess your pet’s teeth and show you how to brush them.
Regular cleaning of your dog’s ears can help to remove the build-up of dirt and wax which can lead to ear infections. Make sure you always use a specially formulated pet ear cleaning preparation, which will be gentle and respect the skin’s pH, and wipe away any excess liquid with some cotton wool or tissue. Never put cotton wool buds down your dog’s ears as this can push any debris further down into the ear as well as risk perforating the ear drum.