Free flea treatment for pets this summer amid high infestation risk warning across Scotland
No one wants a home overrun with fleas, but as the mercury rises, so does the risk of your furry friend bringing these pesky parasites indoors. However, an online brand is offering pet owners a golden opportunity to nip a potential infestation in the bud with a complimentary treatment kit.
With our four-legged companions spending more time in the great outdoors and temperatures becoming increasingly hospitable for parasites, the flea menace becomes all too real. Experts at Itch caution that a mere five fleas on an untreated pet can lead to over a million eggs infiltrating your home within a month - indeed, a single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs daily, just 24 hours after mating.
The warm British summer encourages these eggs mature into larvae, metamorphose into pupae and soon emerge as adult fleas, ready to kickstart the cycle anew. Under ideal conditions, this entire process takes only a few weeks, turning a minor flea problem into a full-scale home invasion if not tackled promptly.
What many pet owners may not realise is that a staggering 95% of flea eggs, larvae and pupae are found not on their pet, but within the home. Fleas lay eggs on pets, which then tumble onto carpets, sofas, bedding, and other soft furnishings, according to the Mirror.
From there, they develop out of sight, lying in wait until they can spring back onto your pet. To fend off fleas, it's recommended to regularly treat your dog or cat with flea treatment every month.
Free flea treatment
Product Description
Itch offers a monthly subscription service to help pet owners remember when it's time to apply the treatment, with the first month being offered for free. The firm is offering new subscribers their first month at no cost, with only the postage fee of £2.99 to be paid.
If customers choose to continue with the subscription, each subsequent month will cost £9.50, but delivery will be free of charge. Itch also offers customers the flexibility to pause, shift or cancel their subscription whenever they wish.
Itch tailors the perfect dosage for each cat or dog based on their breed and size to ensure they receive a safe and effective dose. Pet owners simply need to answer a few quick questions about their pets and Itch will recommend the suitable treatment.
The vet-approved treatment contains the ingredient fipronil, which eliminates adult fleas, and (S)-methoprene, which prevents eggs and larvae from developing. It's scientifically proven to kill and prevent fleas, but it is recommended to treat both your pet and your home, using something like Itch Flea Home Spray to eradicate fleas and their offspring around the house.
Regular hoovering and washing pet bedding on a hot wash (60°C or above) are also essential steps. There are also several other reputable flea treatment brands available that offer an alternative to Itch.
Frontline is among the most recognised brands, and is available on Amazon, containing the same active ingredient as Itch. However, some pets may not respond well to 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 require a bit of research to determine which pack and dosage is best suited to your pet, whereas Itch does all the hard work for you. According to Itch, more than 100,000 pets are using their treatment each month to eliminate fleas and prevent them returning.
The brand has a 4-star rating based on more than 10,000 reviews on TrustPilot, with many delighted with the service for banishing infestations. One said: "I've been an Itch subscriber for more than 2 years and love it. Treatment works well for both my dog and my cat and it's great not to have to remember to buy it each month. Don't miss the days of forgetting to buy and finding ourselves infested."
"My dog Rudy became infested with fleas, for a second time in a year," another explained. "I Googled 'flea treatment' for small dogs. "Itch" came well recommended, and I opened an account with them. 24 hours later, the flea treatment, together with a dog toothpaste and toothbrush, was in my letterbox."
Some customers have voiced frustration with the delivery service, stating: "Whilst I'm happy with the products, delivery leaves a lot to be desired. It's difficult to keep flea and worming treatment up to date when Royal Mail deliveries are so haphazard."
Another customer branded it 'the only thing that works for my dogs'. They added: "No more flea problems. I have a subscription, and although it's only on the third month, they have never arrived late. All the worry of making sure I buy them on time and working out which product is best is taken out of my hands."
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