With much of England baking in the heat, pet owners face numerous challenges right now – from helping pets stay hydrated to preventing accidents (charity Blue Cross warned there’s been a spate of animals, particularly cats, falling from open windows and balconies in the last three weeks).

Rather unhelpfully, the hot weather brings yet another unexpected challenge and one that will make plenty of pet owners shudder: fleas are well and truly thriving.

Hot and humid weather provides fleas with the ideal conditions needed to multiply – and with continued sunny spells and temperatures set to rise as high as 38 degrees Celsius on Thursday, people with pets are being urged to check their fur babies and homes for fleas.

[Read More: How To Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe During The Heatwave]

Natalie Bunday, technical officer for the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), tells HuffPost UK that “hot weather will speed up the breeding process” for fleas. 

The warmer the weather, the faster flea eggs develop into adults. In cool 13°C temperatures, this will take 140 days. But when temperatures hit 32°C, flea eggs can become reproducing adults in just 22 days – that’s five times faster, with fleas laying up to 50 eggs per day in these conditions.

The good news, according to David Cross, head of technical training academy for Rentokil Pest Control, is that in the short-term we’re unlikely to see a significant increase in flea numbers. However, he says, a more prolonged period of this warm weather “could result in a jump in numbers”.

Unfortunately, fleas can cause real discomfort for your pets – and yourself. Dr Karlien Heyrman, from Pets at Home, explains that if left untreated, long term flea infestations can cause real suffering for dogs, cats and smaller animals.

“Repeated bites can be uncomfortable and itchy for an animal, sometimes resulting in hair loss or a secondary skin infection,” says Dr Heyrman. “Fleas may also bite humans.”

Cross adds that it can be quite hard to prevent flea infestations as those found on the host, whether human or animal, typically represent just 5% of the total flea population nearby. “The other 95% will be in bedding, carpets and furniture,” he explains.

As a result, Dr Heyrman urges pet owners to ensure pet bedding is washed regularly (on a hot wash) and pets are routinely checked for fleas and bites.

If you see them scratching, you know what to do.

Tips For Preventing And Removing Fleas

• Regularly treat all pets in the household with a preventative flea treatment throughout the year.
• Check your pet’s coat for fleas or flea droppings – brown or black spots.
• Treat homes, workplaces and cars with a household flea spray.
• Wash pet bedding regularly at 60 degrees.
• Clean furniture to help destroy fleas at each stage of their life cycle.
• Vigorously vacuum carpets, floorboards and skirting boards.
• Throw away the vacuum cleaner dustbag or empty the canister after each clean.