DURING lockdown we’ve enjoyed lots of warm sunshine, but it can lead to big problems when it comes to fleas and our four-legged friends.

PDSA Vet Anna Ewers-Clark said: “Despite recent changes to the way vet practices are running, there are still many ways to keep your pet healthy and free from parasites. Fleas can become more active during warm weather and, although it might be more difficult to get hold of flea and worming treatments from your vets at the moment, you can still purchase effective products from trusted websites, such as PDSA’s online pet store: www.pdsapetstore.org.uk.

For most healthy adult pets, changing or being a bit late with a flea treatment during the pandemic shouldn’t cause too much of a problem over a short period of time, especially if they don’t come into contact with many other animals.”

To prevent fleas affecting your pet this summer read Anna’s top tips which include treat your pet(s) regularly – follow your chosen product’s instructions very carefully and if you are unsure how often the treatment should be applied, talk to your vet or vet nurse.

Do not use dog treatments on cats as some products for dogs can contain chemicals that are toxic to cats. Treat all pets at the same time – if you have multiple pets in your household, make sure to treat every single one with an appropriate product, as fleas can jump between animals.

Treat your house – flea eggs and larvae can live in soft furnishings, carpets and cracks between floorboards for more than a year so if you’re dealing with a flea infestation, you need to treat your house as well as your pets!

Anna said: “If you have a young, or otherwise vulnerable pet that requires flea treatment, we recommend contacting your vets to discuss which treatment is best for them.

"Some vet practices are offering online or telephone consultations and will then be able to send appropriate medications directly to your home.