The great British FLEA infestation: Sales of treatments and bite cream soar due to lazy pet owners

• 20% increase in sales of flea remedies over winter
• 42% rise in sales of bite cream within the same period
• Rainwater and insufficient dog walking might be responsible
• Plus stop by sales of preventative flea remedies

By Anna Hodgekiss

Released: 13:14 GMT, 25 March 2013

British homes suffer from an growing quantity of flea contaminations to due poor pet hygiene.

Sales of household flea remedies have jumped within the winter - cheap last summer time was the wettest in a century might be responsible, say experts.

It's thought a lot of an upswing might be lower to proprietors desire not to walk their dogs as regularly within the saturated summer time, neglecting flea treatment and underestimating how easy it had been for his or her dogs to subsequently get fleas once they did remove them for walks.

Experts say flea contaminations might be because of the reluctance by proprietors just to walk their dogs as regularly within the saturated summer time weather, consequently neglecting flea treatment

Figures in the online pharmacy Chemist Direct show a 25 percent stop by sales of flea strategy to dogs from June to September 2012 – normally their high season - in comparison to the year before – recommending proprietors weren't dealing with their pets as regularly.

But there is a 20 percent rise in sales of anti-flea treatment for example Johnsons Household Flea Spray from September to December this past year, in comparison towards the same period this year.

Pharmacy technician at Chemist Direct also reported a boost in the amount of calls from clients on flea bites, and purchasers of Anthisan bite cream improved by 42 percent from September to December in comparison to the year before. More...

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'When the elements grew to become cooler within the fall, heating was switched on, developing a perfect atmosphere for household fleas to thrive,' stated Leila Bishop, pet items buyer at Chemist Direct.

'It’s simple to get used to it once the weather conditions are dire, but the truth is pets can select up fleas using their company creatures, flea eggs within the soil or plants or perhaps in old pet toys and bedding.

Last summer time was among the wettest on record and a number of our clients and providers have told us they feel that's the reason for that current pests.'

Last August, Dr Tim Nuttall, veterinary skin doctor in the College of Liverpool, stated the flea population continues to be rising within the last 5 years however that it's spiked more significantly previously two.

Warm houses with heating produce a perfect atmosphere for household fleas to thrive

He described that the rise in amounts is nearly all lower towards the cat flea, which - despite its title - will live off dogs, ferrets and humans in addition to cats.

Omar El-Gohary, Superintendent Pharmacist at Chemist Direct stated: 'Flea bites usually appear as red-colored spots with reddened haloes, and therefore are very scratchy, and therefore are generally located on the ft and legs.

'We’ve seen an unseasonal rise in clients getting in touch with us for suggestions about flea bites. Bites ought to be cleaned with cleaning soap and water after which an antiseptic cream ought to be applied. When the bite is painful or inflamed, have a painkiller for example paracetamol or ibuprofen and employ an antihistamine cream for example Anthisan.'

The RSPCA states that the flea can live from between fourteen days as much as twelve months, using the female flea lounging as much as 50 eggs each day, even though they can survive with no host for a lot of several weeks.

The British Pest Management Association suggests regularly dealing with pets with flea treatment and getting rid of plagued bedding and frequently dealing with walls and flooring to avoid the unwanted pests coming back.