Does My Pet Need Flea/Tick Medication Year-round?

The American Veterinary Medical Association encourages pet parents to practice year-round flea and tick prevention. These preventatives can help keep these parasites off your pets no matter the season. Preventatives can come in the form of collars, topical medications, and oral medications. Here are more details on why your pet needs year-round tick and flea medication.

It Only Takes One Flea to Start the Damage

One flea can cause a full-blown infestation. Fleas can thrive outdoors for up to five days even in cool temperatures. This gives them more than enough time to enter your warm home. Their eggs can survive all year in less frequented places, such as porches, garages, and crawl spaces. That is why protecting your pet is important each day of the year.

Ticks Can Wait

Summer and early fall are the seasons when ticks are most active. Some believe that spring is also an active time for these parasites. Winter months can have warm, mild days that you and your pets can enjoy. This makes your pets vulnerable to ticks that wait in grassy and unkempt areas.

Ticks are resilient. They can enter your home and continue their stages of development. They stay where they are and wait patiently for the right host. They can even thrive in social settings like daycares, dog parks, and grooming shops. One pet can carry just one tick and chaos can ensue. Keeping your pet protected against ticks is the most efficient way to keep them safe.            

You Can Have a Full Infestation Before You Notice Fleas

These parasites are so tiny that you do not see them right away unless you focus on your pet. But you may notice some soil-like sediments in your pet’s skin, even if you did not hike that day. This is flea dirt, which usually accompanies live fleas. These little parasites are opportunists. They will always take advantage of a missed or late preventative.

Even if you do kill off the fleas in your dog, scientists say that your dog only holds five percent of the total population on your property. The other life stages are in pupal form, scattered in your premises. Fleas are very challenging to get rid of from your living environment once they have established themselves there. It will take many months of nonstop treatment and flea prevention before you can say that your home is flea-free.

Tick Bites Can Be Alarming

It can be challenging to detect tick bites, especially in pets with thick fur. Bites from a nymph are tiny and almost impossible to see. Some nymphs will stay latched to your pet until they reach adulthood. The bite area at this stage will be swollen and red. If you remove the adult tick, you will see a sore. Your dog may scratch in an attempt to remove these parasites, but ticks are stuck until they are done feeding. Your dog may look miserable scratching and whining. That is why you must provide year-round flea and tick medication for your pet.

Taking care of your pet means providing every kind of health prevention available. Parasite protection is an important method of care. At True Animal Vet, we work with our pet parents to provide high-quality vet care products and services. Feel free to visit our clinic in The Woodlands, Texas, for an in-person consultation. Call 281-867-5968 to schedule an appointment or inquire about the flea and tick medications we have on hand.