Protect your pet and your family from unwanted home invaders at this time of year!
As the nights draw in and the air turns chilly, it’s time to put the heating on. But as we relish cosy evenings indoors, we are unwittingly creating the perfect environment for flea pupae to hatch and infest our pets and our households. Despite common belief that fleas are a summer problem, they in fact thrive in a warm and humid environment, making our warm and cosy homes the perfect place to hide out. They can often be found hiding in pet and human bedding, and on soft furnishings and carpets.
Prevention is much better than cure as they say and by far the best way to prevent flea infestation is to ensure your pet receives regular treatment throughout the year as part of their routine healthcare. Follow the three easy action points below to ensure your pet and your home remain parasite free!
Don’t know where to start? There are loads of treatment options available, such as tasty tablets, drops or collars – and administering the treatment need not be a stressful experience for your pet. Speak to our friendly team who can advise you on the best course of action based on the individual needs of your pet.
Regular, continuous treatment is key to keeping the little pests at bay, but with the busy lives we lead, remembering to purchase and administer treatments can be a challenge! We will happily send you a text or email reminder when your pet is due for their next dose; simply contact us and let us know that’s what you’d like and we will do the rest.
Interested in saving money and spreading the cost across the year? Take a look at the Healthy Pet Club. It’s a straightforward, easy way to manage your pet’s preventative health throughout the year with monthly payments. Enjoy a host of discounts off food and other services we offer too, with the added bonus of regular reminders when treatments are due.
Too late – we’re infested! What next?
Getting rid of a flea infestation unfortunately requires time and patience. Be aware that it could take months to fully rid your home of fleas; some steps you may have to repeat many times before you’re in the clear.
Treat your pets – urgently! Speak to us for advice on the best product to use to meet your individual needs. Keep treating, all year round, even after you have eliminated the infestation.
Wash your pet’s bedding at 60°. Vacuum your house thoroughly, including behind furniture, even if you have hard flooring. This will remove some of the eggs, larvae and pupae around the home.
Spray your house thoroughly with an insecticide suitable for inside the home. Speak to us for advice on what to use. Remember to include spraying everywhere your pet goes, such as your car, any outbuildings or outside kennels etc.
Rinse and repeat all of the above, possibly multiple times, until you are flea-free.
How do I know if my pet has fleas?
Look out for the following telltale signs:
Excessive scratching
Over grooming, constant licking and biting
Red-brown spots on your pet’s skin if you part their hair
Black specs on their skin – these fine droppings are ‘flea dirt’ or faeces
Bites on yours or your family’s skin. Flea bites look like small red dots, often in groups of two or three clusters, mainly around your feet and ankles and lower legs but can also be found on other parts of the body.
