Owners urged to do one thing to protect pets as vet warns of ‘dangerous’ risk

Dog and cat owners can claim their free Itch Pet sample online when they sign up to their subscription service

It’s a common misconception that fleas are only a matter of concern during the warmer months, but in reality, the colder weather sees the pests seek warmth in the comfort of our homes. But ensuring that pet owners don’t get caught out and find themselves with an infestation, Itch Pet is offering a free flea treatment when shoppers sign up to their monthly service.

While fleas thrive in the summer months due to the warmer conditions speeding up their breeding cycle, they are far from gone in autumn and winter. In fact, according to Itch Pet, this time of year often sees a spike in the pesky creatures, with experts dubbing it ‘infestation season’.

During summer, pets can easily pick up fleas outdoors and bring them into the home, where they lay eggs in carpets, bedding, and furniture, which can lie dormant for weeks or even months. When the central heating or fires are turned on in autumn, the warm, humid environment mimics summer conditions, triggering dormant eggs to hatch and bring a new wave of fleas just when owners think the problem is gone.

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The key to tackling fleas is to break their life cycle completely. That means killing not just the adult fleas, but also the eggs and larvae that will otherwise re-emerge later. Using a treatment that contains both Fipronil and (S)-Methoprene, such as Itch Flea Treatment , is crucial.

Fipronil kills adult fleas, while (S)-Methoprene penetrates the eggshell and prevents larvae and pupae from developing. Itch’s vet-approved formula is scientifically proven to eliminate fleas at every stage of their lifecycle, offering both short and long-term prevention.

To ensure maximum effectiveness, owners should apply the correct dose based on their pet’s weight. Thankfully, Itch Pet’s subscription is tailored based on the dog’s breed and weight ,taking the guess work out of treating, ensuring a safe and effective dose.

If left untreated, five fleas on a pet can lead to over a million eggs in a home. A single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, and since around 95% of flea eggs and larvae live in the home rather than on your pet, infestations can escalate rapidly once conditions are right.

Dr. Zoe Costigan, head vet at Itch Pet, commented: “I have seen so many dogs and cats suffering because they weren’t treated for fleas and worms in time. Not only that, it can be dangerous for families too. That’s why I love the Itch personalised flea plan. It makes it so easy to protect your pet and never miss a treatment.”

Now, the retailer is offering new members to their subscription service their first month free, all they’ll need to pay for is the postage, which is £2.99. If they go on to continue with the subscription, prices start at £7.95 for cats and £8.50 for dogs, and is delivered for free. Itch also allows customers to pause, move or cancel their subscription at any time.

There are several other reputable flea treatment brands available that offer an alternative to Itch. Frontline is one of the best-known brands, and is available on Amazon, containing the same active ingredient as Itch.

However, some pets may not get along with the ingredient, in which case, Advantage uses imidacloprid, which is also effective against fleas and is suitable for both cats and dogs. The downside with these is that it may take a bit of research to work out which pack and dosage is best suited to your pet.

Since most fleas live in the home, it’s equally important to treat the living space, too. Itch Flea Home Spray is designed to kill fleas, eggs, and larvae hiding in carpets, furniture, and pet bedding. Regular vacuuming and washing your pet’s bedding on a hot cycle (60°C or above) will also help to eliminate lingering eggs and larvae, ensuring the home is truly flea-free.

More than 100,000 pets in the UK are already protected by Itch every month, with owners loving the convenience. One said: “I’ve been plagued with fleas but the Itch spot on was much better than the top spec flea collar I was using. Definitely recommend, Itch did the job at last she’s flea free thanks to Itch.”

Another said: “My wee one had a nasty flea infection as I think a lot of animals had this year. The fleas were just crazy. I started to see the treatment work quickly. After the second month there were no more on her or in the house. She didn’t have a reaction to the spot on, normally she would have awful dermatitis from other ones, but not with Itch. The house spray didn’t have the stink others do and definitely did its job.”

“Our dog is an old cavalier and we used to use another brand and it stopped working a few months ago,” one owner explained. “We struggled with flea removal for months and tried so many other brands until a friend recommended Itch Pet. We have never looked back. It is brilliant and would recommend this 100%.”

One customer did mention: “Really great customer service! Not always the quickest but I’ve been with them for years consecutively and I’ve always had any issues solved, even if it’s been my fault!”

Another happy Itch Pet customer said: “Tried this for my dog, you get a worming tablet and flea treatment. Worked fantastic, the flea treatment especially was good, previous flea treatments were very strong in odour and this one was great. We have it delivered every month which saves so much time. Would recommend itch to all dog owners.”