h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Brilliant! What a great article this is. Having worked as a veterinary nurse for many years, I have to agree with everything you are saying here. This is packed full of information and covers just about everything giving sensible advice and a real choice of treatments. The most important thing is to keep alert for the first sign of infestation. If you regularly check the area on the rump just above the tail and act as soon as you see any of the flea dirts, (the little black bits) you will keep on top of the situation. It is also a good idea to treat the cat for tapeworm at the same time as the link with fleas is a very definate one. Your vet will be able to prescribe effective safe tablets for this. To confim that the cat has tapeworms check around the back passage and you may see small white wriggly bits emerging or dried on segments that resemble rice stuck to the fur around the tail area. I think thats enough on this subject for now, I have just lost my appetite for breakfast!!!

Ok, I've got fleas. I've done the reading on required treatment of infestation (usually I use spot on, but I forgot a dose and am currently regretting it! Have since given Simba a dose but still obviously have house infestation) can you tell me why I'm "lunch" for those adorable little fleas when my partner gets away scot free? Maybe it's something in my blood which attracts them? Any suggestions?

Poor you!

Pesky little blighters aren't they.

Your partner will actually be getting bitten just as much as you. It is the flea saliva - rather than the bite - that causes the irritation and red bump. Some people are more sensitive to it than others. Your partner must not be as allergic to the flea saliva as you so when he gets bitten his body doesn't react as much. Unfortunately you are, so you suffer!

Pet fleas will bite everything that moves but when they bite a human they don't like it and won't feed or bite again from you. Unfortunately the next flea comes along and has a taste too!

I hope you get rid of them again soon. It just goes to show what a single missed dose does!

Hope that helps!

I should add that the same happens with dogs and cats. Some will suffer 'flea allergic dermatitis' from just one or two fleas. Because they are hyper-allergic to the flea saliva they will scratch themselves to bits and have a very severe skin inflammation. Other pets can have 50 fleas and the only irritation they feel is the tingle of them running about!

Yes it does help thanks. It's comforting to know that my partner is being eaten alive as well, even if he isn't suffering for it!

Serves me right! Just been checking his legs, (he thought I'd suddenly gone mental on him ) and by the looks of it he ain't got a single bite, so he must have fast healing skin. Pity the adorable little creatures don't die when I get bitten, would make me feel a whole lot better!

I'm gonna try the flea collar in the hoover by the way, as well as everything else I can get my hands on which is safe for both Simba and ourselves. I did read about a plug-in device which sends out sonic waves to deter all kinds of creepy crawlies (including our favourite fleas) and rodents. It comes with a 45 day money back guarantee and isn't that pricey when you think it provides all year round protection. Will let you know how I get on with it.

I haven't heard about the sonic device. I would be really interested to hear how you get on with it.

Make sure you give Simba a good tapeworm treatment from the vets - fleas act as an intermmediate host to them and spread them. Ewww!

It would be nice if we could get a pill to kill them when they bite us too! Although I am like your partner, they don't tend to bother me - which is just as well since I am a veterinary nurse! No shortage of hitchhikers on pets in a vets

I hadn't realised until I found this site last night that there was a connection between fleas and tape worms, I do plan on getting some tapeworm treatment though. I have checked Simba's rear end and he doesn't display any signs as yet, but I'd rather be safe than sorry (again).

As for the gadget I've seen advertised, it's on www.bensen.co.uk if you'd like to take a look at it. It would be interesting to see if it works, it's supposed to change the frequency to make a hostile environment for our lovely lodgers. One worrying point it makes on one of the cheaper models (they have one for every budget) is that for the first several weeks it can attract ants into the home .

It's a good job you are blessed with the type of skin that you have isn't it? Don't think I'd enjoy being a vet or nurse too much, will stick to care assisting for the time being I think , I couldn't deal with some of the creatures you have to cope with!

I hadn't realised until I found this site last night that there was a connection between fleas and tape worms, I do plan on getting some tape worm treatment though. I have checked Simba's rear end and he doesn't display any signs as yet, but I'd rather be safe than sorry (again).

As for the gadget I've seen advertised, it's on www.bensen.co.uk if you'd like to take a look at it. It would be interesting to see if it works, it's supposed to make a hostile environment for our lovely lodgers. One worrying point it makes on one of the cheaper models (they have one for every budget) is that for the first several weeks it can attract ants into the home .

It's a good job you are blessed with the type of skin that you have isn't it? Don't think I'd enjoy being a vet or nurse too much, will stick to care assisting for the time being I think , I couldn't deal with some of the creatures you have to cope with!