A common question veterinarians get is whether or not it’s OK to skip flea and tick treatment during the winter months. It seems logical that foregoing treatment during the coldest months would be OK, but fleas can continue to hatch even during the winter months, and ticks find various ways to survive freezing temps—including by latching on to a host.
While fleas may be less active during colder temperatures, they can still be a problem for your pet. That’s why vets recommend that flea and tick prevention be applied throughout the year.
The Dangers of Fleas and Ticks
Itchy, painful bites aren’t the only danger posed by fleas and ticks. Some of the potential problems of a flea infestation include:
- Flea Allergy Dermatitis: This condition causes extreme itchiness, hair loss, and skin infections.
- Tapeworms: If a dog swallows fleas infected with tapeworms, it can cause the dog to become infected with tapeworms. If infected, you may see what looks like grains of rice in your dog’s feces. Typically, medicine is required to treat tapeworms.
- Anemia: Fleas multiply rapidly. If a large number of fleas infests your dog or cat, it can lead to a low red blood cell count (anemia.) Symptoms of anemia include lethargy and rapid breathing. If not treated in a timely manner, this condition can be fatal.
Ticks can also transmit serious diseases, including Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Relapsing Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, and Tick Paralysis.
Choosing the Best Flea Protection for Your Pet
The old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies here. The best way to deal with fleas and ticks is to use a quality preventative that stops an infestation from occurring.
By using an effective preventative year-round, you’ll stop fleas and ticks from infesting your pet and prevent the many possible complications.
Some of the available flea prevention options for dogs include:
Flea prevention products for cats include:
Once an infestation has occurred, choose a treatment, such as Capstar, that kills fleas quickly. Capstar kills fleas within 30 minutes.
Year-Round Prevention is the Best Way to Protect Your Pet
Don’t take chances with your pet’s comfort and health. Use flea and tick prevention year-round to keep your pet parasite-free. Talk to your vet about which product is best for your dog or cat and purchase your flea prevention and everything else you need for your pet from Allivet, where you’ll find the best products at the best prices—and that’s a promise we stand behind with our 100% Price Protection!
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