Fed up with fleas?

Appearance and behaviour

  • Fleas are small insects which bite their hosts in order to extract blood. They live in furnishings, bedding and carpets when in the home.
  • They are reddish coloured and are only a few millimetres long. They are instantly recognisably by their extremely long hind legs and flattened shape.
  • Human fleas are rare but bird, dog and particularly cat fleas will bite humans when their preferred host is not available.
  • Flea larvae feed on organic debris and actively move deep into carpet where they pupate, and may remain undisturbed for many months.
  • Adult fleas are stimulated by vibration and emerge hungry from their cocoons.

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Keeping your home flea free

  • A regular vacuuming of the floor, particularly around areas in which pets sleep or feed, will help reduce the chance of fleas breeding in your home.
  • Regularly check your pet for signs of fleas such as scratching or distress, and regularly check and wash their bedding.
  • You may wish to treat your pet routinely as a precautionary measure - ask at your veterinary surgery for more information about the methods and products available.

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What to look for

Fleas should always be considered if your pet starts to scratch. If you part the coat so you can see the skin - you may happen to actually see a flea. They are very small, move very quickly and often jump as soon as you see them. More likely you see the presence of "flea-dirt", which is tiny little black specks just visible on the skin surface. Flea-dirt is actually the faeces of the flea containing digested blood. If you see this, then it is very likely that your animal has got fleas.

It is possible for humans to get bitten by fleas too. If any member of your family gets little red sore bites (often on the lower legs or feet) then it is worth considering that there may be a flea infestation in the house and you should get your pets checked out.

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Getting rid of fleas

If you have a flea infestation you can call us on 01483 755855; as we provide a domestic pest control service. There is a charge for this service.

You should also treat your pet with a suitable insecticide available from your vet or pet shop.

Alternatively you may wish to treat the infestation yourself.

Pesticides are available from hardware stores - make sure you read and follow the instructions before use.