You noticed your pet scratching, checked their skin and… oh no, they have fleas! Here are our professional tips for getting rid of those pesky parasites, pronto.

Treating all susceptible pets

Fleas can live, feed and breed on dogs and cats in the household, so all pets should be treated with a safe and effective flea control product. Even if pets don’t come into direct contact with each other, they can still become infested from fleas that hatch from eggs dropped around your house or garden.

Managing any skin issues in your pet

Although fleas are uncomfortable for any dog or cat, pets who are allergic to flea saliva can develop significant skin irritation from even just one bite. If your pet is very itchy, we would recommend an assessment with our veterinary team. We can start them on itch-relieving medication and treat any secondary bacterial skin infection that may have developed.

Breaking the flea lifecycle

Unfortunately, adult fleas will lay 25-50 eggs a day that will fall from your pet’s fur and sprinkle around your home and garden. These eggs can lie dormant for months until conditions are warm enough for development and hatching, although they will often hatch year-round in a nice toasty house! This means that even after you kill off the active adult fleas on your pet, fresh fleas can hatch and jump on again.

For this reason, it’s recommended to clean your house for 6-8 weeks with:

• Thorough vacuuming every couple of days, including any furniture your pet lies on, under furniture, and around skirting boards
• Washing your pet’s bedding 1-2 times weekly in 60-degree Celsius water and drying it on a high heat mode
• For severe infestations, consulting a pest control specialist to safely treat your house and garden

Ongoing flea prevention

The best way to prevent flea infestations is to use effective and safe flea control products on your pets year-round. Consult our team if you’re unsure of the best options.