Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
When and why dogs and cats get flea infestations
By Farrell, Sean et al.·Published in Medical and veterinary entomology·2023·School of Biosciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seasonality and other risk factors for fleas infestations in domestic dogs and cats.
Plain-English summary
Fleas are a common problem for both dogs and cats, and a study found that they were recorded in a small percentage of veterinary visits. Specifically, fleas were noted in about 1.17% of cat visits and 0.25% of dog visits across several years. The research showed that younger pets, especially those under 12 months old, were more likely to have flea infestations, with cases peaking during the summer and fall months. Additionally, pets from wealthier areas had a lower chance of being recorded with fleas. Keeping your pet protected with flea treatments, especially during peak seasons, can help prevent infestations.
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Abstract
Fleas in the genus Ctenocephalides are the most clinically important parasitic arthropods of dogs and cats worldwide yet risk factors that might increase the risk of infestation in small animals remains unclear. Here we developed a supervised text mining approach analysing key aspects of flea epidemiology using electronic health records from domestic cats and dogs seen at a sentinel network of 191 voluntary veterinary practices across Great Britain between March 2014 and July 2020. Our methods identified fleas as likely to have been present during 22,276 of 1,902,016 cat consultations (1.17%) and 12,168 of 4,844,850 dog consultations (0.25%). Multivariable logistic regression modelling found that animals originating from areas of least deprivation were associated with 50% reductions in odds of veterinary-recorded flea infestation compared to the most deprived regions in England. Age of the animal was significantly associated with flea presentation in both cats and dogs, with cases peaking before animals reached 12 months. Cases were recorded through each study years, peaking between July and October, with fluctuations between each year. Our findings can be used towards healthcare messaging for veterinary practitioners and owners.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36621899/