There are a huge range of products available for the control and prevention of fleas. The most powerful and effective drugs are only available from veterinary surgeries. We will always be glad to give advice on which would be the most suitable product for your pet.

Fleas

Every cat and dog is likely to become infested with fleas at some time during its life. Adult fleas live on your pet but the eggs they lay drop off into the environment - your home!

These days, central heating and wall-to-wall carpets provide the perfect year-round breeding ground. Fleas survive by feeding on your pet's blood - which causes irritation at best and significant health problems at worst:

• Allergic skin disease (flea allergy dermatitis) in cats and dogs
• Transmission of tapeworms (Dipylidium) in cats and dogs
• Blood loss and anaemia in puppies and kittens

... and your pet may not be the only one to suffer; you or your family may receive itchy bites too.

So, if you are determined to protect the health and well-being of your animals and your family, you should be thinking seriously about the prevention of flea infestation both on your pets and in your home all year round.

The flea life cycle

1. Adult fleas jump form the environment onto your pet and feed on its blood. After 10-2 days they begin to lay eggs.
2. As many as 2000 eggs are laid on your pet by a single flea, most of which drops off into the environment - your home!
3. Larvae hatch from eggs, are mobile and short distances away from light and use gravity to hide themselves in carpets and bedding, under rugs and beneath furniture.
4. Pupae develop as a result of the larvae spinning a protective cocoon in which they 'pupate'. Here they develop into adult fleas. If there are pets or people around, the pupae hatch. If not, the fleas can survive for many months as pupae, waiting for an opportunity to emerge.

In warmer temperatures, the whole life cycle may take as little as two or three weeks to complete - which can quickly result in a flea population explosion if you don't take preventive measures.

Treatment therefore should include agents that can attack all four stages of the flea life cycle.

Flea treatment and control

Comprehensive treatment and control involves using products on the animal and also in the animal's environment.

The usual means of applying flea control products to the animal are by 'spot on' or as a spray.

• Spot on products are supplied in single use tubes appropriate to the size and species of pet. They are applied to the neck or shoulder area.
• Sprays are used over most of the animal's coat.

The developing flea stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) that are present off the pet are usually treated with some form of aerosol spray designed to provide long-lasting blockade of the flea life cycle.

We can give you in-depth advice as to which product best suits your pet and in-depth advice on how to use them.

Please note that all the more powerful flea control products used on pets are Prescription Only Medicines (POMs) and as such we will need to have your pet registered with us in order to provide them.