Pet owners failing to keep fleas at bay

PET owners in Scotland are the worst in Britain at ensuring their animals are free of fleas, say researchers.

More than one in three, or 35 per cent, of Scots owners do not give their pets flea treatments, while the UK average is 20 per cent, the PDSA animal charity said.

Three million UK pets are at risk of infestation as the mild winter causes the flea population to swell, according to the body.

Head of pet health Nicola Martin said: ‘One flea can bite a pet 400 times a day. Kittens and puppies are especially susceptible, and fleas can prove fatal in young pets.’