Fleas can cause medical problems in pets including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), tapeworms, hair loss due to scratching, and secondary skin irritations. In large numbers, fleas can cause anemia from blood loss, especially in puppies and kittens. Some pets have been known to die if the anemia is severe. Ticks can also transmit serious diseases, including Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Because fleas can cause so many serious health issues to pets, pet owners should be aware of all flea treatments and flea prevention, even in the winter time.
Flea protection in the Winter
Thinking that fleas “disappear” in the winter is bit far-fetched, especially since there are four different stages of the flea in the environment. While adult fleas, flea larvae, and flea eggs don’t do well in colder temperatures, flea pupae, like cocoons, can survive up to a year in cold weather conditions. Also, while it’s cold outside, it’s usually warm indoors and pet owners tend to keep their pets indoors. So, if you have dogs and cats that bring fleas and all of their offspring indoors to reside in your carpet and bedding, you have a year-round flea problem. That’s another very good reason to keep your pets on flea meds 12 months out of the year. Another reason to keep pets on flea prevention is to help keep tapeworm infections low as well which a majority of heartworm preventions do not control.
Luckily, there are many topical and oral flea meds that help to remove and control the adult flea population, and they are generally very safe:
Frontline Products, like Frontline Plus and Frontline Top Spot, are great flea prevention products. Frontline Plus is a monthly topical treatment provides fast, effective and convenient treatment and control of fleas, ticks and chewing lice for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. Frontline Top Spot is a once a month convenient spot treatment for fast-acting, long-lasting control of fleas, ticks and chewing lice.
COMFORTIS chewable tablets offer the same formula for cats and dogs kills, and fleas and controls flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) for one month. This product is easy to administer tablet kills fleas within 30 minutes and provides protection against fleas for 30 days
Remember that cold weather does not kill ticks. In fact, spring and fall are when the deer tick numbers are at their peak. As a general rule, we recommend using flea and tick products until after extreme winter conditions persist. In warmer climates, flea and tick protection should be provided year round. Visit www.allivet.com for great prices and savings on all of your flea prevention and treatment medications, as well as on all of your pet care needs!
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