Fleas

This project aims to improve our understanding of fleas in UK cats and dogs by bringing together information from multiple sources. Although fleas are among the most commonly encountered external parasites of pets, there is a need for contemporary information on how frequently they are encountered, the factors associated with flea infestations and the experiences of owners managing fleas in their households. By combining veterinary surveillance, laboratory and owner-reported data, the project seeks to strengthen the evidence base around flea activity in UK pets and identify priorities for future investigation.

The study has three main components.

1. Anonymised electronic health record data collected through SAVSNET will be used to identify and monitor flea infestations in cats and dogs, investigate temporal, geographical, animal and owner-related factors associated with flea occurrence, examine patterns of flea product prescribing, and explore the wider clinical context in which fleas are identified. Findings on temporal and spatial patterns of flea occurrence will be shared through a publicly accessible interactive dashboard (see visualisation below).
2. With participating veterinary practices, we will evaluate the feasibility of collecting flea samples from cats and dogs attending their clinics, allowing us to examine the flea species currently affecting UK pets, and zoonotic diseases they may carry.
3. Finally, an online questionnaire open to cat and dog owners across the UK will gather information on owner observations, experiences and approaches to flea management. Together, these complementary data sources will provide a contemporary overview of fleas in UK pets and households, helping to inform future research, veterinary practice and policy discussions.

The visualisation below is based on our published REGEX and highlights the important role of cats, and disease seasonality.

Note on proportions

We use a measure of fleas identified in 1000 consultations. As a result changes in peak heights can be influenced by both flea prevalence, but also by changes in the language used by vets to record fleas, and by the number of other consultations we receive where fleas were not identified.

Our research on fleas

Seasonality and other risk factors for fleas infestations in domestic dogs and cats. Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

Other flea-related resources from the team

Flea summary by Dr John McGarry.

We are grateful to NOAH - the National Office for Animal Health - for their support of this science.

This research is funded by NOAH (National Office of Animal Health), the trade association for the UK animal health industry. The research is conducted independently by researchers at the University of Liverpool (UofL) and SAVSNET. Whilst funders may commission us to carry our certain projects and analyses, they have no influence over the results we present, the interpretation we put on them, publications, or other project outputs from UofL staff. Funding does not imply UofL endorsement of any company, organisation, brand, or product. We carefully manage all our funding arrangements to protect our impartiality, scientific integrity, and commitment to evidence-based research.