Pet owners rush to claim free flea treatment as UK heatwave sees pests rise

As the warmer weather returns, for many pet owners, so too does the risk of fleas, with animals spending more time outdoors, and the temperatures being prime for the parasites to thrive. But one online brand is giving owners the chance to tackle an infestation before it happens with a free treatment kit.

According to experts at Itch, five fleas on an untreated pet can lead to more than a million eggs infesting your home in as little as four weeks. This alarming figure comes from the rapid life cycle of fleas, with a single female flea laying up to 50 eggs per day, just 24 hours after mating.

In warm, humid environments, like many UK homes during summer, these eggs hatch into larvae, develop into pupae, and soon emerge as adult fleas, ready to start the cycle again. In ideal conditions, this entire process takes just a few weeks - that’s why a minor flea problem can explode into a full-blown home infestation if left unchecked.

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What many pet owners don’t realise is that 95% of flea eggs, larvae and pupae live not on your pet, but in your home. Fleas lay eggs on pets that fall into carpets, sofas, bedding, and other soft furnishings. From there, they develop out of sight, waiting for the chance to jump back onto your pet.

To prevent fleas, it’s recommended to give your dog or cat regular flea treatment every month to protect them against flea infestations. Itch offers a monthly subscription service to help owners remember when it’s time to apply, with the brand offering the first month for free.

Free flea treatment

Itch offers a monthly subscription service, delivered for free exactly when you need it to help you never forget when it’s time to apply. They offer the first month for free with £2.99 postage, and allow you to pause, move or cancel your subscription at any time giving you complete control.

The retailer is offering new members to their subscription service their first month on the house, all they’ll need to pay for is the postage, which is £2.99. If they go on to continue with the subscription, each month will cost £9.50, but the delivery will be free. Itch also allows customers to pause, move or cancel their subscription at any time.

Itch tailors the perfect dose for your cat or dog based on their breed and size to ensure you receive the perfect safe and effective dose. Owners simply answer a few quick questions about their pets, and Itch will recommend the right treatment.

The vet-approved treatment uses the ingredient fipronil, which kills adult fleas, and (S)-methoprene, which stops eggs and larvae from developing. It’s scientifically proven to kill and prevent fleas, but it is recommended to treat both your pet and the home, using something like Itch Flea Home Spray to kill fleas and their offspring around the house. It’s also vital to vacuum regularly and wash pet bedding on a hot wash (60°C or above).

There are several other reputable flea treatment brands available that offer an alternative to Itch. Frontline is one of the best-known brands, and is available on Amazon, containing the same active ingredient as Itch. However, some pets may not get along with 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 take a bit of research to work out 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 get rid of fleas and prevent them coming back. The brand has a 4 sar rating based on more than 10,000 reviews on TrustPilot, with many pleased 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 people have been left frustrated by the delivery, though, writing: “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 said it was ‘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 & working out which product is best is taken out of my hands.”

Shoppers can claim their free month of Itch Pet’s flea treatment here.