The fleas seem to have had a population explosion recently - I'm sure it is the worst year we have had for decades! Every other person coming through the door is complaining that they can't seem to get rid of them and their flea treatment is not working. The 2 products we use and recommend, Advocate and Frontline, are very effective because they persist for at least a month, whereas other products which are confusingly marketed as 'spot-ons' just have a knockdown effect ie they kill the fleas present at the time but others can jump straight back on and will not be affected.

The reason people think that their treatment isn't working is because of the flea lifecycle. The one or 2 on the pet are just the tip of the iceberg - because they lay hundreds of eggs in the house and  bedding which constantly hatch, develop through larval stages and then reinfest the pet. These will be killed by the Frontline or Advocate but it will look as if they are not, since new ones jump on all the time and may take up to 24 hours to die. Eventually this would clear the house but the best and quickest way to do it is to spray the pet's environment with Indorex or a similar environmental treatment. Further advice is available from any of the surgeries.

The hot weather in May and June, followed by high humidity in July and August, seem to have been ideal conditions for flea reproduction. Mind you, it's not all bad, as conditions seem to have been ideal for fruit growth as well and I've made so much jam I've run out of pots!