Flea warning issued to pet owners

Pet owners are being urged to check their pets and homes for fleas as summer approaches and temperatures rise.

Pets at Home in Linwood has given out advice on washing your pet’s bedding at 60°C and hoovering and cleaning regularly to make sure no infestation can take place.

Fleas can live within pet bedding as well as soft furnishings used by the whole family, posing a risk to the entire household’s health if blankets and bedding aren’t regularly washed.

Stewart Gordon, store manager at Pets at Home Linwood, told the Paisley Daily Express:“Fleas can be a very nasty – and quick to expand – problem for pets, particularly if left untreated.

“Long-term flea infestation is very irritating to the pet due to repeated bites and could cause the animal to scratch themselves, resulting in hair loss or even a secondary skin infection, which can be traumatic.

“It’s vital to check not only your pet but also your home for a flea infestation.

“While the risk to a pet varies from animal to animal, it is possible for a pet to become infested after missing just one preventative treatment.“

He added:“We often associate fleas with the summer months, but in actual fact, the increasingly mild British winter , coupled with the humid atmospheres created by modern central heating, means that fleas can be a year-round problem.

“That’s why seeking regular treatment, even during cold seasons, is a sensible precaution for all pet owners.”