You & Your Pet

HOW TO GET THROUGH FLY SEASON

Temperatures aren’t the only thing that begins to rise towards the end of May into early June, the warmer weather is the perfect temperature for flies.

This time of the year flies come out of hiding

and begin reproducing at a rapid rate, which unfortunately isn’t great for our pets. During fly

season some pets are more vulnerable to these pests than others. Rabbits and other small animals such as guinea pigs are more susceptible to a condition known as Flystrike. During the summer months, flies

are quite often looking for a host to lay their eggs onto which can result in this condition.

Flystrike is caused by the hatching eggs of flies that

are embedded in their host. This can escalate at a very quick pace if not treated and the area can become badly infected. To prevent your small pets from suffering there are a few steps you can take during the warmer months: J Make sure your pets body is clean and dry, especially towards their tail end and rear area as this is one area to become most likely infected, especially if damp J Check them daily for imposters, signs of injury or any abnormal behaviour J Their living space should be clean and dry, pest-proof their beds and living quarters to stop these tiny bugs from gaining access prevent the horse fly from biting your horse.

J The bot fly is known for laying its eggs on your horse’s

coat. Unfortunately, when your horse grooms itself it can often be ingested and in some cases, its larvae can cause both stomach and mouth ulcers. Make sure your horse has been wormed and continue to brush and spray them with a horse-friendly repellent.

Overall the best way to reduce the risk of flies biting or irritating

your pets is to make sure they are healthy by feeding them a well-balanced diet along with exercise as this should prevent sickness and injury which can make animals easy targets.

Good grooming, will alert you of any issues that may need to be addressed. As well as coverings such as rugs, masks and repellent sprays, there are also creams to help soothe your

Another victim of the fly during the warmer months is our

horses. Not only do they irritate these beautiful creatures, they can often carry harmful diseases. Some of the most common summers pests that may irritate or harm horses are: J Midges, these tiny little bugs may not be the worst of the summer flies in terms of carrying disease but then can

be extremely annoying and cause discomfort. Midges can also cause an allergic skin reaction known as Sweet Itch. When it comes to midges, prevention is definitely the best

cure. Try to have your horse stabled at dusk and dawn as these are key feeding times for these flies. Fans are also

a great way to keep them at bay because they don’t have much power in their wings. There are also special rugs and masks designed to protect your horse’s body and face from getting bitten. J Horse flies are another critter that appears during the

summer months. This small fly feeds on your horses,

especially targeting their neck, legs, withers and your horses underside. Being prepared can help reduce and animals if they do get bitten as well as flypapers which attract

the flies away from your pets.

If you have any questions or queries regarding Fly Season do pop in to one of our stores or reach out to us on social media. n

Ashlee is the social media and marketing assistant at petplace. Animal obsessed, she has a fondness for all living things and the environment using her creativity to build awareness. If you follow petplace on social media you will no doubt have interacted with Ashlee, she loves engaging with their customers and, most importantly, seeing all your wonderful pets.