When it comes to pesky parasites, prevention is definitely better than cure. Did you know 5 fleas on your pet can lead to more than 1 million eggs infesting your home in only 4 weeks? Nasty!

The microscopic mingers can affect our furry sidekicks at any stage of their lives, from puppyhood and kittenhood, right through to their senior years. Fleas are master hitchhikers – even YOU can end up carrying them into your home. So, think your indoor pet is safe and doesn’t need flea treatment? Think again.

The best way to avoid flea-mageddon? Maintain a rhythm of regular, monthly flea treatment. Believe us, you’ll be thanking us later…

At what time of year are fleas a problem?

Sorry to say folks, but fleas are a problem ALL. YEAR. ROUND.

Despite the cold weather outside, our homes are usually kept at a comfortable, flea-friendly temperature. 

With lots of dark and cosy places for flea eggs and pupae to hide and hatch, plus hospitable hosts (aka your pet) to keep them well-fed, fleas will literally jump at the chance to infest your home.

However, it’s summer-time when the jolly jumpers go bonkers. Thanks to the perfect combo of temperature and humidity, fleas are living their best lives in summer, with the warmer climate providing ultimate breeding conditions for their lifecycle.

And it’s not just fleas you need to worry about. Ticks are at their blood-sucking best in spring and autumn. However, the area you live in and the type of environment your pet hangs out in (long grass?!) can make ticks a big, juicy nuisance, all year long.

Worms are also a year round problem. The idea that worm eggs are killed off by cold weather is a myth. There is no reduction in the risk of worms over the winter months. 

Each worming treatment will kill the worms in your pet’s guts at that moment only, it’s not a preventative treatment and offers no future protection. 

And, if your pet has an active worm infestation, it may take several treatments to eradicate them. So a regular worming treatment, all year round, is best.  

There’s no question that taking a break in your flea and worm treatment at this time of year leaves your pet vulnerable to attack from the microscopic mingers. 

Should I treat my pet for fleas every month?

Fleas are everywhere. The flea you saw yesterday is NOT the flea you saw today. They’re determined little blighters! That’s why you always need to be on your A-Game when it comes to your pet’s flea subscription plan. 

Regular monthly application of Itch Flea is essential to ensure ongoing protection of your pet against fleas, ticks and lice. 

Itch Flea’s double action, spot-on treatment kills adult fleas within 24 hours, halts all other flea life stages in their tracks and stops any new fleas joining the party, protecting your pet until their next monthly treatment. Plus it kills ticks and lice.

Using Itch Flea an Itch Worm in combination

It’s good to get into a routine of treating for fleas and worms at the same time. Both Itch Flea Spot On treatment and Itch Wormer tablets can be used safely together on the same day.

And remember to treat all the pets in your household at the same time. We’ll recommend a personalised dose of monthly flea treatment and either a monthly or quarterly dose of wormer, depending on your pet’s lifestyle and habits.

Why am I seeing more fleas on my pet after applying their flea treatment?

You might wonder why you’re still seeing fleas on your pet after treatment, why aren’t they dead?! But the flea you see today isn’t necessarily the flea you saw yesterday! Itch Flea is scientifically proven, when correctly applied, to kill all adult fleas dead in their tracks in 24 hours. It can’t stop a new flea hopping on though. But rest assured, 24 hours after making the jump, that sucker’s a goner too. 

We know it’s strange, but it’s actually completely normal to feel you are seeing more fleas or your pet seems to be scratching more when you have first applied Itch Flea. 

In the first 48 hours after application, one of the active ingredients in Itch Flea, Fipronil, makes the fleas hyperactive, driving them a bit crazy before they die. (Sorry, not sorry!) So you might notice them jumping on your pet or your pet reacting to their hyperactivity by scratching at them.

Handy tip – the cotton wool test:

Here’s a quick and easy test to see if you’re dealing with live fleas or critters that have already bitten the dust…

Can humans catch fleas?

Us humans can’t act as hosts for fleas, but we can get bitten and develop itchy bite reactions. These bites can transmit disease to both pets and pet parents, such as feline infectious anaemia and Rikettsia felis.

The cause of ‘cat scratch disease’ (Bartonella Henselae) can also be transmitted to humans through flea dirt accidentally being rubbed into the skin. This can lead to chronic illness, and can even be fatal in people who are immunosuppressed.

Keep on top of your pet’s monthly flea treatment to keep them safe from these pests (as well as yourself and the rest of the family)!

Also, if your furry friend likes to hunt, eats raw food or if they live with small children or the immunosuppressed, both you, your family and your pet are at a greater risk from worms.

Parasitic worms are very common in cats and dogs. Worms can affect our pets at any stage of their lives and, if left untreated, can cause serious illness.

Stop the wrigglers taking hold with a regular dose of dewormer. Itch Wormer multi-action worming tablets keep your pet and your family safe.

Do I need to use a household flea spray?

Here’s what Itch Vet Zoe Costigan has to say…

“For existing infestations or if you’re new to Itch, I recommend using a one-off blast of Itch Flea Home Spray alongside Itch Flea spot-on treatment. Itch Flea Home Spray delivers almost certain death to the 95% of fleas hiding around your home. Your pet’s monthly dose of Itch Flea spot-on treatment kills new adult fleas coming into contact with your pet within 24 hours.”

Contact the flea slaying pros in our customer service team to order your can of Itch Flea Home Spray (£12.95 for a 500ml can). You can either drop us a message or call us on 020 3370 0905 Mon to Fri 8am-4pm.

And remember to use Itch Flea Home Spray in combination with other, easy-to-implement measures such as regular vacuuming and washing soft furnishings at 60℃ to help protect against re-infestation. 

Then after treating your home, keep up the monthly flea treatment without fail to keep the blighters at bay. 

Do I need to protect my pet against worms as well as fleas?

Absolutely! As if fleas couldn’t get any worse, they can also give your pet worms…

That’s right, your pet could accidentally swallow a flea mid-grooming sesh and if that blighter is carrying tapeworm larvae, they’ll be in your bestie’s guts and multiplying before you know it.

Both Itch Flea Spot On treatment and Itch Wormer tablets can be used safely together on the same day. And remember to treat all the pets in your household at the same time.

We’ll recommend a personalised dose of monthly flea treatment and either a monthly or quarterly dose of wormer, depending on your pet’s lifestyle and habits.

Itch Worm kills common intestinal worms and prevents newly hatched larvae from growing and multiplying.

We’re here to help

We’re a dab hand at slaying parasites, if we do say so ourselves. Our highly qualified customer team are ready to support with any advice you might need. Drop our team a message or call us on 020 3370 0905 Mon to Fri 8am-4pm. 

Let’s beat the blighters together!