The warm weather of spring and summer are usually a time when pet owners turn their attention to fleas, but what you might not realise is that by continuing your flea prevention throughout the cooler months you can actually help reduce the likelihood of a flea outbreak when the sun finally decides to come out from behind the clouds.

The warm and humid weather is a flea's favourite time of year and they can be a tough enemy to fight if their population has been slowly multiplying throughout the winter months. The adult flea can even survive for up to a year without feeding on an animal.

With six strong legs capable of leaping, it's easy for fleas to move around but also to hide in your dog or cat’s fur, your carpet, bed sheets, in cushions, soft furnishings and even in house plants. Female adult fleas live and lay eggs on your pet. These eggs then fall off and remain protected in the dirt, cracks and crevices of your house, in pets bedding or in your carpet, where they hatch into larvae. The flea larvae feed on debris and develop into pupae, which can lay dormant for up to 3 months (that's the whole of winter!). Once the right environmental conditions appear they hatch into new adults in as little as 19 days in warm and humid weather, and then start feeding and reproducing.

So what can you do?

Firstly, it's important to treat your pets and their environment all year round to prevent fleas. Just because you can’t see the fleas doesn't mean they aren't there. 'Flea dirt' or flea droppings are detected more easily than the flea itself and can be seen on the skin over the rump and back – they look like black specks of dirt.

Another way to check for fleas is to comb through your pet's coat onto a white sheet or piece of paper that is moist –when wet, flea droppings turn red as they contain the blood ingested by the flea as it feeds.

Symptoms of scratching, inflammation (reddening of the skin) and dry, scruffy patches over the base of the tail are also signs that fleas are most likely present.

Fleas can also spread tapeworm which can then be transmitted to humans. So you must treat your pets regularly with a Worming solution from the PURINA TOTAL CARE range

Step 1: Treating and preventing fleas

• PURINA TOTALCARE has numerous products available to control fleas on your dog and cat, but for maximum effectiveness you can contact the Purina PetCare Advice Team and they will recommend the best  products for your pets' specific needs.
• TOTALCARE Flea Knockdown is a product for dogs for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations. The active ingredient in this product is Fipronil (a vet grade active ingredient). Monthly application is recommended.
• TOTALCARE Flea powder can be applied once or twice a week to the pet and their environment
• TOTALCARE Heartwormer, Allwormer & Flea Control prevents heartworm infection & treats roundworm, whipworm, hookworm and tapeworm. It also prevents and controls against flea infestations.
• TOTALCARE Flea shampoos for dogs only will kill fleas on contact but have no residual effect
• TOTALCARE Flea & Tick Control are 3 monthly treatments and are safe, and very easy to use. They kill the larval stages in the pet’s surroundings and also contain an insect growth regulator (IGR) to control all environmental life stages.

Step 2: Controlling Fleas off your pet

• It is imperative that you treat your household inside and out as the majority of the flea population (95%) exists as eggs, larvae and pupae in the environment. This may include in the dirt, cracks or crevices of your house, in your pet's bedding or in your carpet. Here is a list of products that can be useful when dealing with a flea infestation in your home:
• Flea bombs, foggers and mists for your house, which contain insect growth regulators (IGR's) and can provide up to 12 months protection . These can be purchased from supermarkets.
• Yard sprays or rinses can be applied to specific areas in the home and outside, including kennels and most contain insect growth regulators. These can be purchased from many hardware stores

Use with CARE:

Some insecticides are poisons and product labels must be strictly adhered to. Young, sick, pregnant and nursing animals may be more sensitive to flea treatments, so please consult your veterinarian prior to using a flea treatment.

Key Points to remember

• Never use a dog flea product on a cat. Many flea products for dogs are toxic to cats e.g. permethrin (check the label)
• Some products cannot be used in puppies or kittens under 3 - 4 months of age
• Natural alternatives are available –they can still be toxic and may not be as effective
• Remember to treat all pets in the household at the same time
• Regular grooming and washing of your pet’s bedding is also important
• Your vet can help you plan the best control for your pet.