Do Dogs Need Flea And Tick Medicine In The Winter

Yes, dogs need flea and tick prevention during the winter months. Although the species slow down during the winter while outdoor temperatures drop, they can get spaces in your home. 

As soon as winter comes, temperatures start falling. You might give your pet a break from their tick and flea medication, and multiple dogs might be at risk at that time. 

When they find ways during the cooler months, they also can survive. In addition, they can even be active and thrive throughout the winter. 

Over 200 species of fleas are there, which affects dogs. These transmit diseases and can cause tapeworm infections and anemia. You can find a few dogs very sensitive to fleabites.

As a result, they suffer from allergic reactions of itchy, red, and scabby skin. They can experience hair loss also. 

Most people think their pets are safe from these pests after the first frost, but unfortunately, it isn’t true. A few species of ticks are active in the fall and winter months and can cause Lyme disease also.

Ctenocephalides felis, called cat fleas, are fleas seen on dogs and cats. They need blood from an animal host, enabling them to live and reproduce.

In addition, these do not come with wings allowing you to fly. However, these jumpers can jump 100 to 200 times their size.

They come in four developmental stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. While you find cold weather with no host on the horizon, flea pupae can be seen in the small cocoons nestled on your couch. It is the stage before adult fleas emerge. You should rug till the weather doesn’t get warm or get a host available. 

Generally, a solitary adult female begins laying eggs after the day of the first ingestion of blood. It can make a maximum of 50 eggs per day and about 2,000 in its lifetime.

Therefore, you don’t need so much time to have an infestation on the pet and in the house, and it is a time-consuming extermination process.

Is Tick And Flea Medication Necessary In The Winter?

Yes, the medication is essential in the winter also. Mostly, species of ticks and fleas work slowly during the winter.

But in some places in the United States, you do not find sufficient cold, which can kill these parasites and stop the activity.

Ensure that you keep them protected throughout the year as ticks and fleas might carry diseases and harm your dog. 

Risks Of Ticks In The Winter

You can find ticks active in the winter as the black-legged ticks in the south, western black-legged ticks along the west coast, and brown dog ticks in the southern half of the United States.

When it comes to Gulf Coast Ticks, it can help to transmit tick paralysis. In addition, they may be active in low temperatures, even 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

It indicates that many areas of the United States are not so cool with preventing tick activity. The range of ticks can expand beyond the Gulf Coast states.

Ensure that you keep your dog on tick and flea preventive medication year-round. The reason is that you will never know when a thaw becomes warm enough to allow ticks to be active again.

Risks Of Fleas In The Winter

Fleas are a year-round nuisance for your dog in mild weather. The reason is that the fleas don’t get cold enough to go dormant. 

In colder climates, fleas are usually available in warmer areas, including barns, animal dens, or in and under homes. They will need only a mild day to become active again. 

Fleas become very common after major wet weather events, like hurricanes. Besides, if you plan to visit with your dog during the winter, you will find ticks and fleas active year-round.

Whether you stay in a place affected by these weather patterns, keeping the pet on flea medication is essential. Thus, you can keep your pet protected from the diseases which fleas carry.

Seasonal Temperatures And Flea & Tick Season

When the rising temperature rises, flea eggs remain safe to hatch outside. During this time, ticks are available in woods and tall grasses.

In addition, you and your dog might spend most time of the year hiking, walking, and enjoying nature. 

However, you don’t need warm temperatures to put the dog at the mercy of these pests.

Keeping the pet on a year-round flea and tick preventive medication is the most effective defense way for protecting them safely. Ensure that your veterinarian must recommend it.

In addition, Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer, said that you must ask the veterinarian for advice to know what should be the safest treatment for the dog and home.

She also noted that the protocol depends on your dog’s living space, age, and breed. 

For instance, if you have old dogs or young puppies, they will need special doses or treatments. Besides, if you stay in a tropical area, it has to be more frequent.

Faq:

1. What months do dogs need flea and tick medicine?

These pests can cause harm to your dogs throughout the year. But these become most active during the warmer months. It may begin in early March in a few places in the United States.

2. Does my dog need flea and tick medicine year-round?

It is advised to provide flea and tick protection throughout the year for unpredictable weather. You should know that fleas may live outdoors, and these may survive in even 33 degrees low temperatures for up to five days. 

3. Should you flea your dog in winter?

Yes, it is essential to flea your dog in the winter also. In most cases, species of ticks and fleas work slowly during the winter.
But in some places in the United States, you do not find sufficient cold, which can kill these parasites and stop the activity. You must protect them throughout the year as ticks and fleas might carry diseases and harm your dog. 

4. Can dogs still get fleas in the winter?

Yes, dogs get fleas in the winter. Sometimes, Flea populations can decrease a little bit, mainly outdoors. But these don’t get removed completely. If you want to keep the dog safe, you should keep the flea treatments going even in the cold winter months.

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