Do you have questions about your cat or dog’s health? Seresto Flea and Tick Control collar have called on the TV vet and animal expert, Rory Cowlam, to answer your questions - £200 voucher to be won

[BellaMumsnet]

Please note, we are no longer taking questions on this thread.

Whatever life may bring, our pets are always there to love us unconditionally. As an important part of the family, it’s only right we treat them with the utmost care they deserve. With this in mind, Rory Cowlam, Seresto’s expert vet, will be on hand to help answer your questions on your cat’s or dog’s healthcare.

Here’s some more information about Rory the Vet:

“Rory is a respected voice within the veterinary industry with an ever-growing career in broadcast. His warmth and knowledge shine through on his regular appearances on programmes such as ITV's Lorraine, BBC's Blue Peter, CBBC HQ as well as BBC Breakfast and Sky News. A graduate from the Royal Veterinary College in 2015 he has since gone on to a full-time career as a member of the Neighbourhood vet practice based in East Dulwich, London. Rory's ethos is based around education and communication which saw him become an Amazon best-selling author in 2020 with his debut book ‘Secret Life of a Vet’ published by Hodder.”

Here’s what Seresto has to say:

“You don’t want to be thinking about fleas and ticks when you should be enjoying play time with your pet! We at Seresto are keen to ensure that nothing gets in the way of the special bond between you and your pet. We know life is busy, and monthly flea and tick treatments can feel like just another thing to try and remember. That’s why Seresto collars provide 7-8 continuous months of flea and tick protection, allowing you to forget monthly treatments once and for all. Give your pet Seresto - the long-lasting flea and tick protection that lets pets play on!”

So whether you have a question on how to prevent your pet from getting fleas and ticks, or maybe this is the first time you’ve had a dog and want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep them happy and healthy, post your question on this thread for Rory the Vet to answer. Rory will be back on the week of the 3rd May to answer some of your questions.

Everyone who shares a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[RorytheVet]

@Hottesttrikeintown

My dog is worm treated and has no outward signs of worms or fleas but scoots. Also scratches lots. I give him fish oil in case it’s dry skin but any other ideas?

Hi @Hottesttrikeintown. Scooting can be down to a number of things. Anything that causes discomfort or itching to the back end of a dog can cause them to rub themselves along the ground in an attempt to alleviate the itch. Worms and inflamed anal glands are your two most likely causes of this so I would get your vet to check his anal glands.

As for the scratching, that could be a lot of things. If you're sure there are no signs of external parasites, other possible causes could be; dermatitis, infections, inflammatory skin conditions, allergies or some other weird and wonderful things. I think it's time to get down to the vet.

[RorytheVet]

@lillypopdaisyduke

My dog does not go out for walks, or come into contact with other dogs much, he is old, and just goes to the garden for a few hours with me wandering around, would you think he would need a collar - can I bring fleas home with me if I pet a family members dog, which may infect him ? Thank you. (I'd hate him to get fleas due to my fault)

Hi @lillypopdaisyduke. A great question and something i spend a lot of my time talking about with my clients!

I would say in this case, of course it is ultimately your decision. It sounds as if your dog is pretty low risk, but as you point out, that does not completely reduce the risk of him getting fleas or other parasites.

If you want to be sure he isn't going to pick them up, then I would recommend prevention such as a Seresto flea and tick collar. If you opt not to then of course that is fine, but I would highly recommend you groom him daily to check for any flea dirt or signs of other critters.

[RorytheVet]

@Montydoo

I have a 10 week old puppy, is she too young for a collar ? - she has had a vet check and was given a dose of flea treatment applicable to her small size. The vet said that I can bring viruses home on my clothes and shoes when coming into the home so must continue to protect her.

Hi @Montydoo. Seresto collars can be used in dogs over the age of seven weeks so she would be absolutely fine to have one put on.

Your vet is correct, you can indeed bring home parasites on your clothes and shoes so prevention is often the best approach!

[RorytheVet]

@theuncles

Two questions: one is about flea collars. My cat is 10 months old and a crazy mad tree climber, I worry about him getting caught up?

Second one is that he never seems to eat anything much. A few dry biscuits/Hills essentials diet and the occasional half a pouch of wet food. He'll scoff all the dreamies and webbox sticks and lick-e-lix I offer so I assume he's just fussy about routine food, but that's not ideal. He's not huge but not at all skinny - and he does eat mice! (We have no neighbours so he's not being fed elsewhere). I found him pulling up grass with his teeth today and eating it - very odd? Also he drinks from a water bowl which previous cats have never done. Should I worry?

Hi @theuncles. Wow, what a list!

With regards to the eating, I really wouldn't worry too much. If his weight is stable and he seems well, then it is highly unlikely there is anything wrong. If you see a change in his weight or appetite then consider asking your vet.

The grass eating... this can be normal. In the absence of vomiting I really wouldn't worry. Again, the water drinking is a good thing, I wish my cat liked his bowl instead of my water glass!

As for flea collars, here's what Seresto has to say:

We're glad you asked. All Seresto collars feature a safety-release mechanism which means that it can widen should an animal become trapped. For cats and small dogs, it is also equipped with a pre-determined breaking point, so is able to break completely under force – so this should give you peace of mind, especially if your pet is the adventurous kind.

[RorytheVet]

@Zee85

How to bath my Dog if he get fleas? Are there steps ? And what products that could be used during bath time?

Thank you.

Hi @Zee85. Bathing your dog when they have fleas is a great addition to a flea treatment strategy. I very rarely recommend bathing as the treatment of choice for fleas though. The aim of bathing should be to remove as much flea dirt and eggs from the dog's coat as possible and to help soothe irritated skin. Flea shampoos, in my opinion, aren't very effective and so I usually suggest using an oatmeal based shampoo as they are sensitive and good for soothing skin.

It is really important that you treat your dog with an anti-parasite treatment such as Seresto, as well as treat your house by hoovering and applying a house treatment spray to control eggs and larvae in the environment. Remember as well, that bathing dogs that are using a "spot-on" flea treatment will often reduce the efficacy of these products.

[RorytheVet]

@AngryAngel

My 10 month old puppy has started licking us all the time over the last week. At first it was cute, not that we encouraged her, but now she just goes for it, all of the time. I would like to stop this behaviour because I react to her saliva and get hives (otherwise not allergic to her at all.) And also, well, it's potentially annoying for people greeting her if they are not into licks! Any ideas?

Hi @AngryAngel. In this case, I would recommend some redirection training. I would suggest that when your dog does lick, remove your hand, tell them no and then give them a toy or a chew to distract.

If this is not working, then you may need to speak to a dog trainer or behaviourist to see if they can help.

[RorytheVet]

@CatRatSplat

If we humans get (hopefully not) headline, would we need to treat our semi-longhaired cats? If so how?

Hi @CatRatSplat. Interestingly, lice are very very species specific, including the common human head louse. These little guys with ONLY live on humans, not animals. Therefore, no need to worry!

[RorytheVet]

@sheilads105

My cat is an indoor cat - does she still need flea treatment?

Hi @sheilads105. I get asked this a lot so thank you!

In short, it is completely up to you. You are absolutely right in thinking that indoor cats are at less risk of external parasites, however you would be mistaken if you thought they didn't get them.

I regularly see indoor cats with fleas so if you're not going to treat her then I would highly recommend regular grooming to check for any signs of flea dirt.

You must act quickly if you do spot some, as a single flea can turn into an infestation in a matter of days!

[RorytheVet]

@OhYouBadBadKitten

I definitely could do with some advice :)

My cat has ticks all the time despite using drops prescribed by the vet. They only kill the ticks once they've bitten him. Then they often seem to die embedded. I use the treatment every four weeks.

I'm also finding live ticks that haven't yet bitten him, but are crawling on him. I've lost one on the sofa this weekend. Not ideal!

Any advice please?

Hi @OhYouBadBadKitten. Oh I'm sorry, this sounds horrid!

Firstly, if you can, get yourself a decent tick remover. This will help you get them off when you first spot them. Secondly, why not switch to a product with some repellent action such as Seresto? It provides both a killing action if the ticks manage to attach, but also a repellent action to keep them away in the first place! AND it lasts eight months...

[RorytheVet]

@saffysabir

If you're starting a flea treatment, is it something that you're supposed to be using constantly to maintain even after they're treated?

Hi @saffysabir. This really depends on the situation and is of course, completely up to you as an owner.

I generally recommend prevention as it can be a nightmare to clear up a flea infestation. Some people take my advice and treat regularly, some people do it half the time, and some people not at all. All I can tell you is, I treat my dog year round.

[RorytheVet]

@Sleepybumble

How does this flea collar compare to the monthly drops. Can I have advice about how to decide which one to use for my cat, thankyou

Hi @Sleepybumble. Honestly, this is a pretty hard question to answer.

The monthly drops you refer to come in a huge range of types, with different drugs in different concentrations. There are a lot of non-prescription spot-on treatments that are pretty useless in my opinion, but there are some that work brilliantly. The benefits of the Seresto collar are that it is easy, it lasts up to eight months and you don't have to remember to reapply.

[RorytheVet]

@StandUnderMyUmbrella

What are the telltale signs that my cat might have a touch of the horrid fleas!?

Hi @StandUnderMyUmbrella. Scratching, black flea dirt in their coat, hair loss, stress behaviour, scabs over their back and if it's a really serious infestation, you may even get bitten yourself!

[RorytheVet]

@alshareif

Is there a particular remedy for fleas that's better than others?

Hi @alshareif. There are so many out there that this is a tough question to answer.

Spot-ons are very widely used. If you're going to use these then I recommend getting the prescription ones from your vet as the shop bought ones are, in my opinion, less effective.

Flea collars are also a bit hit and miss, I don't generally recommend them except for Seresto.

Tablets are becoming more popular, but again, the ones from the vet are pretty good, while the shop bought ones can be a bit rubbish. You can speak to your vet for more advice!

[RorytheVet]

@hannahbjm

If i put a Seresto tick collar on my cat do i also need to use flea treatment advocate on her as well? Or does the collar do both jobs?

Hi @hannahbjm. The collar will cover for fleas and ticks for up to eight months. Advocate is a prescription only product, that also covers worms so it's best to chat to your vet about this one. I would speak to your vet about what the prevalence of these parasites is like in your area, as it may well be that Seresto would be perfectly good to keep the nasties away!

[wellingtonsandwaffles]

Can a cat be happy inside? What if it’s been an outdoor cat previously?

[Lovingspring]

My dog is getting older now, she will be 11 in October. I have noticed she is getting stiff. Possibly from her hips. Are there any supplements you would recommend? Thank you

[RorytheVet]

@salemaxo

How often should you be taking your dog for a walk and how long for?

Hi @salemaxo. As a general rule, I recommend that most adult dogs should be getting at least an hour of exercise a day, if not more. If your dog is not used to this, then a slow build up is needed or you can split the 60 minutes over two or three walks.

Exceptions to this rule are dogs with medical conditions such as osteoarthritis and dogs under the age of one. Puppies need less exercise despite often being full of beans and you should try and stick to five minutes per month of age once or twice a day.

[RorytheVet]

@SleepyMathematician

My dog reacts badly to spot ons (they seem to hurt her skin, she hides from me for days and is under the weather afterwards) so she has tablets or chews. Would a collar give similar problems?

Also, I pet her a lot and she often has her head close to my face. My dogs also sniff and nuzzle each other a lot. Is this ok with the collars?

Hi @SleepyMathematician. Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Spot-ons are usually completely inert but there are those dogs out there that react badly to them, like yours!

In my opinion, you will only know if she will have an issue by trying it but I would hope that she wouldn't as the collar is pretty clever. There should be no residue on her skin to cause a reaction.

As for the safety aspects, the Seresto guys have made sure that the collar is safe for you and your other pets. There is information on the packaging about how to use the collar safely for you and your dogs.

[RorytheVet]

@SleepyMathematician

Another one - my elderly rescue dog used to eat her poo when she first came to us many years ago - we think as a result of the very poor conditions she’d been kept in.
She got over it but in recent months has been obsessed with eating poo again. Is this a sign of old age/ creeping dementia or could she have a nutritional deficiency (she’s fed a high quality food)?

Hi @SleepyMathematician. Oh the dreaded poo-eating. How horrible!

It can be a tricky one to get on top off too! I think, if you haven't changed her food recently and there has been no change to start this then it may well just be a behavioural thing coming back in to her habits. However, speak to your vet, especially if you are noticing anything else, as sometimes these small changes can be a clue that there is something not quite right.

[RorytheVet]

@GloriaSicTransitMundi

Ever since I saw a cat with a dreadful collar injury (paw through the collar, horrific wound) I don't put collars on my cats. Does Seresto have drops instead?

Hi @GloriaSicTransitMundi. I am afraid Seresto only comes in collar form. This is to do with its unique mode of action, which means that the active ingredients are locked within the polymer matrix of the collar and only released in slow doses across the pets skin and coat.

We do, however, understand your worry, which is why Seresto was designed with safety mechanisms in place to help give you peace of mind. All Seresto collars feature a safety-release mechanism which means that it can widen should an animal become trapped.

For cats and small dogs, it is also equipped with a pre-determined breaking point, so it's able to break completely under force – so this should give you peace of mind, especially if your pet is the adventurous kind.

However if you are looking for a drop on, you could always try Advantage, a flea only spot-on from the same family as Seresto.

[RorytheVet]

[quote Sunnyday321]@sheilads105
Hi , I also have an indoor cat and we did not treat him for fleas . We found fleas on him, so now treat monthly . We think caught from a recent trip to the vets or possibly we took one into the house ![/quote]
Hi @Sunnyday321. I always recommend my clients with indoor cats to treat them for fleas. Indoor cats are generally lower risk for ectoparasites but there is never no risk at all.

You are absolutely right. Any trip outside could have picked those fleas up or indeed, we can bring the eggs and larvae inside on our clothes and shoes.

[RorytheVet]

@LadyPoison

Why only the 2 sizes of collars?

My dog is 10kg and wears the vet prescribed "large" Seresto collar which seems a high dose for a rather small dog ( fox terrier) given that dogs come in very much larger sizes than him but would wear the same collar. I get that more of the collar is in contact with the neck of a bigger dog but I'd be much happier with an intermediate size.

Hi @LadyPoison. Great question. The reason that Seresto comes in two sizes is actually due to the unique way in which it works. The active ingredients in Seresto are “locked away” in its polymer matrix until the collar is placed on your cat or dog. These then slowly diffuse at low levels across your pet’s skin and hair coat throughout the 7-8 months.

More active ingredients are released based on the surface area of the collar in contact with the dog’s neck. For example, almost all of the collar may be in contact with the skin for a larger breed, but for a smaller breed they are only using the surface area contact of say half the collar (the excess length is trimmed down during fitting) and hence, when applied properly, there is a smaller surface area of collar available to release the actives.

The release of these ingredients is also done through a concentration gradient. This means that the collar only tops up the pet with enough actives to spread across their skin and then stops releasing once the hair coat and collar matrix are balanced. Only then does it continue to top up as the active ingredients work their way out of your pets coat.

Seresto’s two collar sizes have proven efficacy in both small dogs weighing less than or equal to 8kg and in large dogs weighing over 8kg.

[RorytheVet]

@Sweetpea1532

We rescued 4 kittens at 2 months old...they've all been " fixed". They are now 10 months and are indoors only.. Recently one of the males has started annoying the other 2 males and the female by waiting until they are asleep and then licking their bum hole( sorry, too much info! But a real life problem) he has recently started doing it more frequently. HELP!
About the flea treatment...since they are indoor only would you still suggest a flea treatment...I can't put collars on them as they figured out how to escape them or have gotten their paws stuck through them.
Thank you for any advice!

Hi @Sweetpea1532. HAHA, sorry, couldn't quite contain a laugh there. Ahem, serious vet hat now on... Um, okay, so this is a new one for me. Not totally sure what to recommend other than trying to discourage.

Saying that, if it is mutual grooming it could just be a nice bonding thing? If it's bothering the other cats then I would try and train the behaviour out of him and maybe keep him away from them while they're sleeping? Sorry, I don't feel like I've been much help there but I'm not sure I would worry too much.

As for the flea treatments, hmm, indoor cats are still at risk of fleas, albeit less so. I recommend semi-regular treatment even for indoor cats as once you've dealt with an infestation once, you know how stressful it can be!

[RorytheVet]

@trevorandsimon

Why does my little dog do pig impressions after a walk? She'll snort and snuffle and grunt like a pig for several minutes like she can't can't her breath, then it stops.

Hi @trevorandsimon. This is a tricky one! So this could be something completely normal or it could be something wrong.

I would really recommend you video it and book in with your vet to get her airway checked. There are often breed-specific issues that you can pick up on just by looking at how they breathe, but a video is ALWAYS useful.